In 1996, John Galliano was appointed Creative Director of the House of Dior, marking the beginning of one of the most iconic and celebrated periods in the house's modern history and in late 1990s and early 2000s fashion. Over the following years, Galliano left a distinct mark on Dior's codes, permanently changing the course of the house's legacy.
In 1999, he unveiled the iconic Dior Saddle Bag in his Spring/Summer 2000 collection, the design having been inspired by a photograph by Helmut Newton depicting a woman carrying a horse saddle across her back. The Dior Saddle Bag would go on to become one of the most recognisable handbags in fashion history.
The Dior Saddle Bag carried a distinctive appearance, featuring an asymmetrical saddle-like shape, a short shoulder strap, and a secure rear pocket. It quickly earned its position as one of the defining it bags of the 2000s after being carried by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, played by Sarah Jessica Parker. It was later seen on celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Christina Aguilera, and many more.
In 2006, to celebrate his tenth anniversary at the House of Dior, John Galliano extravagantly reimagined the iconic Saddle Bag through the cultures of twelve countries that inspired him throughout his tenure at Dior. The countries featured in this collection were England, Russia, France, India, China, Morocco, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Japan, the United States, and Egypt. Each design was produced in an edition of only 100 pieces, making the collection exceptionally rare and highly collectible.
We were incredibly lucky to find two bags from this collection: Russia and Spain.
With Russia, Galliano captures the eternal winter associated with the country's imagery and folklore. Crafted in royal blue satin, the bag is adorned with cream fur trim and intricate lattice embroidery embellished with pearl accents. The result is an exceptionally theatrical and opulent interpretation of the Saddle Bag, capturing the untamed extravagance that came to define Galliano's Dior.
This particular saddle bag represents Spain. It is crafted in black silk and finished with distinctive floral embroidery, with a handle shaped in the form of a turtoise-shell like traditional Spanish crest. An exceptional collector's piece, it perfectly captures the theatrical and culturally inspired spirit of the Galliano era, yet maintains a quiet elegance; true to the essence of Dior.
Twenty years later, the Anniversary Country Saddles remain some of the most coveted collectible renditions of the Dior Saddle Bag ever created. Produced in exceptionally limited numbers and representing a celebratory moment in John Galliano's tenure at Dior, they offer a fascinating glimpse into Galliano's creative vision at its most fervent hue.
Alongside Russia and Spain, we are also excited to be releasing several pieces from the original Spring/Summer 2000 collection that introduced the Dior Saddle Bag to the world. Among them are the exceptionally rare Dior Denim Logo Boots, worn on the runway during the collection that marked the debut of the now iconic Saddle Bag.
For collectors of Galliano era Dior, these pieces represent not only a defining moment in fashion history, but the beginning of one of the most influential and covetable accessories ever created.