Christian Dior S.A. (French pronunciation: [kʁistjɑ̃ djɔːʁ]) (more commonly known as Dior) is a French company which owns the high-fashion apparels and accessories producer and retailer Christian Dior Couture, as well as holding 42% of LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods firm. Both Dior and LVMH are controlled and chaired by businessman Bernard Arnault. The Dior label is the namesake of designer Christian Dior who launched the haute couture empire in 1946. Christian Dior Couture, a division of the whole House of Dior, designs and produces some of the world's most coveted haute couture, as well as luxury ready-to-wear fashion, menswear and accessories. Today, Dior operates about 160 boutiques worldwide with plans to open more in the coming years.
Competitors to the House of Dior include, among many, the fashion houses of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Versace, MaxMara and Prada.