Christian Dior Senior Haute Couture First‑Hand (Draping or Tailoring)
About Christian Dior
Christian Dior Couture is a global luxury fashion house renowned for its haute couture ateliers and uncompromising dedication to craftsmanship. As part of the LVMH group, the Maison blends heritage savoir‑faire with contemporary creativity, operating ateliers where handwork, technical excellence and artisanal transmission are central to the employer value proposition.
Christian Dior Couture in Paris seeks a Senior Haute Couture First‑Hand (Draping or Tailoring) for a permanent atelier role.
Role & Responsibilities
- Conceive and execute complete hand‑made assembly, montage and finishing of haute couture garments according to the chosen specialty (draping/flou or tailoring/tailleur).
- Produce pieces for collections, prototypes and bespoke client or VIP commissions, ensuring haute couture standards of cut, fit and finish.
- Collaborate closely with patternmakers, stylists, cutters, seconds and atelier leads to interpret Studio Artistic sketches and model toiles.
- Read and interpret patterns, model sheets and toiles; propose technical solutions to optimise feasibility and final aesthetic quality.
- Manage fittings and implement adjustments following essays, maintaining precision and attention to detail at each stage.
- Work with a wide range of materials — textiles, leather, fur, integrated components and embroidered elements — adapting techniques accordingly.
- Respect production timelines and quality requirements communicated by workshop management.
- Contribute to skills transmission by mentoring apprentices and supporting new or junior first‑hands.
Qualifications
- Professional certification: CAP / BEP / Bac Pro in Fashion, Garment Technology or equivalent vocational qualification.
- Minimum ten years' proven experience in haute couture ateliers or an equivalent environment, with demonstrable experience as a first‑hand or senior seamstress.
- Exceptional technical dexterity in hand‑sewing, montage, assembly and finishing specific to haute couture.
- Deep knowledge of textile behaviour and materials, and proven capacity to work across fabrics, leather and fur.
- Ability to read and analyse toiles and patterns and provide technical input to improve fit and construction.
- Fluent in French; English language skills are an asset.
- Flexibility in working hours during collection periods and willingness to travel domestically or internationally for specific fittings or events.
Skills
Experience
Minimum 10 years' proven experience in haute couture ateliers or a comparable high‑end bespoke environment, with a record of executing complex hand‑finished garments.
Education
CAP / BEP / Bac Pro in Métiers de la Mode, Garment Technology or equivalent vocational qualification.
Workplace
The role is situated in Paris, Île-de-France, France.
Culture
The Maison cultivates a workshop culture anchored in meticulous craftsmanship, artistic collaboration and intergenerational transmission of skills. As part of LVMH, Christian Dior Couture emphasizes excellence, creativity and inclusion, maintaining ateliers where technical mastery and respect for heritage are paramount.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Christian Dior, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Senior Haute Couture Seamstress», «Lead Couture Stitcher», «Senior Draper (Haute Couture)», «Senior Tailor (Haute Couture)», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.