Christian Dior established the House of Dior with Marcel Boussac’s backing in 1946.
Textile magnate Marcel Boussac provided the financial support that allowed Dior to open an independent couture house in Paris. Dior was already an experienced designer, having worked for established couturiers, but the new business gave him the opportunity to create collections under his own name.
The house opened at 30 Avenue Montaigne and presented its first collection in February 1947. That debut made Dior internationally famous and created the silhouette later called the New Look. The business soon expanded into perfumes, accessories, licensing and international operations.
The full corporate history is more complex than simply calling Dior a Boussac company. Ownership changed over time, and the fashion house is now part of the LVMH group, while Christian Dior SE is a separate holding company.