The Dior-Kramer Connection

WWD June 1951 Christian Dior

The Dior-Kramer Connection

Product endorsements, licensing, and marketing collaboration is an essential part of the business survival of the “mega-designer.”

This cross-company licensing can be traced back to at least one designer, Christian Dior. Many know of the jewelry marked “Christian Dior by Kramer,” “Dior by Kramer,” or “Kramer for Dior,” but until recently we didn’t know the nature of this arrangement. 

Back History

The Diamond Look by Kramer

The Kramer Jewelry Co. was started in 1942 by three brothers, Louise Kramer president, Morris Kramer, vice-president, and Harry Kramer, treasurer. The company was first known as the jewelry concern that created, “The Diamond Look.”

The Christian Dior Kramer Deal

In April 1951, the Kramer Jewelry Co. announced that it would be “executing” Christian Dior’s American costume jewelry line. According to the announcement, Mr. Dior would design two collections annually featuring approximately 125 pieces.  The jewelry was shown with Dior’s New York ready-to-wear clothing and was distributed to establishments who had exclusive rights to carry the Dior line. Initially, this line was to be known as, “Christian Dior Creations by Kramer.”

It’s important to note the word, “execute.” If Kramer of New York did in fact use jobbers, this would stand to reason for the use of the terminology, “execute” rather than “manufacture” the jewelry. 

Additionally, and perhaps to create an intriguing marketing story, Mr. Kramer stated part of the Dior venture would introduce jewelry designs previously exclusive to the Paris market. Kramer indicated a group of Dior-Kramer branded jewelry would be presented in the United States with copyrighted protection.

Kramer Jewelry Copyright Infringement Notice

Material Shortages At Time of Introduction

In part, due to the limitation of strategic metals affected by the Korean War, much of the line was to be produced in silver metal. However, the most prominent challenged that faced this company and others during the first couple of years of the 1950s was the supply of stones.  (Please note the author can find no examples of sterling Kramer or sterling Christian Dior for Kramer jewelry.) During the stone shortage period, the three brothers traveled throughout the United States salvaging anything that had stones which could be removed. This included items such as belts, handbags, and clothing.

Collaboration

To facilitate the collaboration of this line, Mr. Kramer took extended trips to Europe to help develop the line and take note of the European jewelry fashions which no doubt influenced the Dior partnership. Mr. Kramer and others continued this practice for many years.  These extended branches of the Dior brand were carried out under the condition that the product was manufactured, marketed and distributed in the same manner as other Dior product lines.

In 1953, under the direction of Henry Ash as director of the Christian Dior line, the company implemented its most extensive marketing campaign to dates, covering both trade journals and consumer magazines. However, at the time of this post, the author cannot find any advertising of product using by the Dior and Kramer name.

Questions Remain

This quick inquiry into the history of the Kramer Jewelry Co. and its collaboration with Christian Dior still has many unturned stones. The most pressing for me is when did the collaboration stop? And when did other companies start producing the Christian Dior line made for the American market?

Side Information

In the late spring of 1951, Jerry De Nicola was appointed the head of sales for the Christian Dior jewelry collection for the Kramer Jewelry Co. He served two years with Kramer until left to head sales with the Ledo company.  In Mary 1956, Mr. De Nicola left Ledo to form his own company, named, “Jerry De Nicola Inc.”
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Jerry De Nicola head of Dior for Kramer, May 25, 1951

Henry Ash head of Dior for Kramer May 29, 1953 (replaces Jerry De Nicola)