Henri Fayol

"A great specialist in industrial organization, Henri Fayol will be his general manager and mentor, the only one of his collaborators he would sometimes listen to."

"“With the sudden eloquence of the shy.” Christian Dior begins by explaining that “his desire was not to resurrect an old house but to create one with his name, in a neighborhood of his choice, where everything would be new” … The house of his dreams “would be very small, very closed, with few workshops; they would work there according to the traditions of the best tailoring intended for a clientele of truly elegant women.” He also explains that he “would only make seemingly simple models, but with very elaborate craftsmanship.” Furthermore and above all, he speaks of the foreign markets lost during the war and says that to reconquer them, we must “return to the tradition of great luxury of French couture.” When, out of breath and surprised by his own boldness, Dior falls silent, he fears greatly that his interlocutor found him a bit presumptuous. Yet…: “I listened,” Boussac told me, “during our conversation that lasted nearly an hour, to Christian Dior analyzing haute couture, describing to me how he conceived his profession, everything that had fascinated him, how he saw the evolution of couture worldwide. Before accompanying him out, I told him that his project was quite different from mine, that it might be ambitious but that after all, his point of view was interesting and needed reflection. After Christian Dior’s departure, Henri Fayol came into my office and immediately asked me:"

"“I have always been interested in haute couture. I needed it for my main business, textiles, and clothing. I had previously followed the creations of Loiret, of Paquin… I wanted to make the street prettier, more attractive. Because it is the fashionable women’s outfits that embellish it. I had founded a small house: ‘Philippe et Gaston,’ on rue Saint-Florentin. In 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Gaston were getting old and asked to retire. I needed a designer. I turned to Lelong, who was president of Haute Couture, whom I knew well: I had provided him with fabric during the time of great shortage. Lelong couldn’t suggest anyone. I turned to Henri Fayol, my general director. He inquired and proposed someone from Lelong, a young designer with a good reputation, Christian Dior. I objected to Fayol that this young man certainly wouldn’t want to leave Lelong for Philippe et Gaston. Fayol insisted. I agreed to meet him.”"

"“With the sudden eloquence of the shy.” Christian Dior begins by explaining that “his desire was not to resurrect an old house but to create one with his name, in a neighborhood of his choice, where everything would be new” … The house of his dreams “would be very small, very closed, with few workshops; they would work there according to the traditions of the best tailoring intended for a clientele of truly elegant women.” He also explains that he “would only make seemingly simple models, but with very elaborate craftsmanship.” Furthermore and above all, he speaks of the foreign markets lost during the war and says that to reconquer them, we must “return to the tradition of great luxury of French couture.” When, out of breath and surprised by his own boldness, Dior falls silent, he fears greatly that his interlocutor found him a bit presumptuous. Yet…: “I listened,” Boussac told me, “during our conversation that lasted nearly an hour, to Christian Dior analyzing haute couture, describing to me how he conceived his profession, everything that had fascinated him, how he saw the evolution of couture worldwide. Before accompanying him out, I told him that his project was quite different from mine, that it might be ambitious but that after all, his point of view was interesting and needed reflection. After Christian Dior’s departure, Henri Fayol came into my office and immediately asked me: “— Are you considering taking Christian Dior? What impression did he make on you? “— I’m not taking him for the Philippe and Gaston house. “— Why? replied Fayol, surprised, almost worried. “Because I believe he is not made to take over a small house. He needs to create under his own name. So, I have to choose: do I want to create only businesses that bear my name, or does this boy have enough talent for us to consider it? I feel he deserves this chance."