Jacques Rouet
Strategic Concepts & Mechanics
Primary Evidence
"Immediately after the war, in 1947, he created his own fashion house with Christian Dior. From the moment of his first collection, presented in February 1947, his "flower women" who embody the New Look, toured the world. Under the management of his manager, Jacques Rouet, Dior becomes an essential star of French luxury. Manufacturing licenses for all kinds of fashion accessories are sold worldwide."
"Boussac tends to conceive the role of the Dior house as that of a research laboratory, at the forefront of its own textile creations. He intends to somehow appropriate the brain of fashion. He says: “I needed haute couture in my main business. I created Dior to get my hands on that indefinable thing called good taste [9](private://read/01jjdy9maqdsy9c2bv37rfja01/#bookmark14).” Jacques Rouet confirms: “Marcel Boussac understood that Dior would bring an element of prestige and notoriety that would reflect on his entire textile empire. At no time did he impose on a designer to use fabric from his productions. However, he sent personnel from his companies to see the collections, learn everything that was cutting-edge in textiles in terms of novelty, and stay informed on trends. He himself was very interested in the phenomenon of fashion and what makes success. He also asked for the assistance of Dior’s creative staff to supervise his ready-to-wear collections “Pierre Billet” and his raincoats “Blizzand”.”"
"And finally Dior strikes a very sensitive chord in him: this business and money broker is fascinated by creation. Many signs indicate that he aspires to create himself: Jacques Rouet testifies to this a little further on. It is certain that Marcel Boussac feels creation as something sacred, a mystery that overflows the simple know-how recipes, and even the considerable powers he attributes to the meticulous pursuit of perfection. Perhaps he knows that Beauty is not of the same essence as mediocrity, is not merely improved mediocrity. The total freedom that the autocrat respects in Christian Dior finds its explanation here."