Which French luxury fashion house introduced the “Saddle” bag in 1999? Dior introduced it under the creative direction of John Galliano. The distinctive, asymmetrical bag was presented during Dior’s Spring/Summer 2000 ready-to-wear show in October 1999.
Its curved shape drew on equestrian imagery, while the collection itself mixed horse-riding references with streetwear and hip-hop influences. The design quickly gained visibility through public figures, including Foxy Brown, and later became especially associated with Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Those appearances helped establish the Saddle as an early-2000s “It” bag.
The bag’s later history is more complicated than its original success. Interest declined for a period before Dior revived the design in the late 2010s, introducing updated versions and renewed collector attention. It is sometimes confused with similarly shaped equestrian-inspired handbags, but the 1999 fashion-house launch and the “Saddle” name specifically identify Dior’s design.