Patents on the soles of your shoes...

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Oh, patents! Maria Grazia Chiuri Dior Saddle Bag

In 2018, Maria Grazia Chiuri* gave the Y2k Galliano Dior Saddle Handbag a second wind. She made the Saddle handbag a bit larger so it would accommodate cell phones, and she provided a crossbody strap. The Chiuri Saddle Bag was also produced with different materials, more colorful and ethnic, fringed and beaded, using printed or embroidered leather.

The US design patent, USD1068257S1, titled Handbag was awarded to Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Saddle Bag on April 1, 2025. The Applicant was Christian Dior Couture in Paris, France. The patented ornamental design covered the Paris Map print on leather.

Below, the extracted patent Figure 1.1 and a few of the many marketed embodiments of the Chiuri Saddle Bag, in fabric and leather. Each Saddle Bag displays the iconic dangling “D” charm, and CD letter handle rings on each side.

Figure 1.1 USD1068257S1

Dior Saddle Bag - Flowers and birds printed leather.

Dior Saddle Bag - Embroidered leather.

Dior Saddle Bag - Beaded and fringed.

Note

*Maria Grazia Chiuri, first woman Creative Director at the House of Dior from 2016 to 2025.

References

Dior Handbags

https://tinyurl.com/mryhujb4
De Klerk, A. and N. Hughes (June 22, 2024). The History of the Hero: The Dior Saddle Bag. Harpers Bazaar.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/a42118540/dior-saddle-bag/

Friday, February 20, 2026

Oh, patents! John Galliano Dior Saddle Handbag

The John Galliano* Dior Saddle Handbag was the Y2K (Year 2000) "hit" bag, and one of Galliano’s greatest accomplishments (De Klerk & Hughes, 2024). The Galliano Dior Saddle Handbag was awarded the US design patent, USD449737S, titled Saddle Handbag, on October 30th, 2001. The patent was assigned to Christian Dior, S.A., in Paris, France.

Below, the extracted patent Figure 1, showing a front elevation view of the Saddle Handbag. Next to the patent figure, an embodiment of the Dior Saddle Handbag in denim with beige leather and gold hardware.

Note
*John Galliano was Creative Director at the House of Dior from 1997 to 2011.

References

Dior Handbags

https://tinyurl.com/mryhujb4
De Klerk, A. and N. Hughes (June 22, 2024). The History of the Hero: The Dior Saddle Bag. Harpers Bazaar.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/a42118540/dior-saddle-bag/

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Lady Dior Art

Since 2016, each year, Dior has commissioned about 10 artists from around the world to reinvent the Lady Dior handbag. In limited editions of 100, the Lady Dior Art handbags are rolled out at the Paris flagship store, mid-October. Commissioned artists have included such superstars as Judy Chicago, Faith Ringgold and Joana Vasconcelos, together with young emerging artists.

Unexpectedly, the Lady Dior Art project appeared as interesting to artists, as it was for collectors and the public. In fact, this was an opportunity for artists to showcase their art in another medium, with a utilitarian component, to a new end user, outside of a gallery context. Additionally, the art pieces could cross generations as “hand-me-downs”. Indeed, very few artists ever refused to participate (De Klerk, 2024; Diderich, 2025).

Below, a sample of the dazzling and fabulously re-imagined Lady Dior Art handbags, created by 8 of the 99 commissioned artists, to date.

Lady Dior Art
https://www.dior.com/en_us/fashion/dior-lady-art
De Klerk, A. (Jan 10, 2024). The latest Lady Dior Art Project is here. Harpers Bazaar.
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/g46274638/lady-dior-art-project/
Diderich, J. (July 8, 2025). Lady Dior Art Project celebrates 10th anniversary. WWD- Womens Wear Daily.
https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/dior-lady-art-project-10th-anniversary-1237970033/

Brian Calvin (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/nowhereboogie/

Jessica Cannon
https://jescannon.com/
Judy Chicago
https://judychicago.com/

Lakwena
https://www.lakwena.com/work
Sophia Loeb (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/sophialoebstudio/
Inès Longevial
https://www.instagram.com/ineslongevial/?hl=en

Faith Ringgold

https://faithringgold.com/

Mickalene Thomas
https://www.instagram.com/mickalenethomas/?hl=en

Ju Ting

https://www.instagram.com/jutingstudio/

Joana Vasconsuelos

https://www.joanavasconcelos.com/en

Monday, February 16, 2026

Oh, patents! The Lady Dior Handbag

Originally created in 1994, by Gianfranco Ferré*, and named Chouchou (a French term of endearment meaning “favorite”), the Lady Dior handbag was rechristened the following year in honor of Princess Diana. The Princess of Wales loved this bag she had received as a gift from Bernadette Chirac, then-first lady of France. She was then seen carrying the handbag on numerous occasions.

Since then, the Lady Dior handbag is history! Originally designed with a black quilted leather pattern (shown below), inspired by the rattan caning of Napoleon III chairs, the Lady Dior handbag has been reinvented many times. For example, the Toile de Jouy** Lady Dior handbag (also shown below) was designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director at the House of Dior from 2016 to 2025.

The US design patent, USD1028500S1, titled Handbag, was awarded on May 28th 2024 to Maria Grazia Chiuri. The Applicant was Christian Dior Couture, in Paris, France. The Maria Grazia Chiuri Lady Dior handbag is made out of an inverted Toile de Jouy-style fabric with the iconic Dior letter charms, and the House name embroidered on the front. The Toile de Jouy for the handbag features a Paris map design.

Below, the patent Figure 1.1 shows a front perspective view of the Chiuri Lady Dior handbag. Beneath the patent drawing, an embodiment of the marketed Chiuri Lady Dior bag, shown in navy inverted Toile de Jouy, with shoulder strap. The image of a vintage, black, quilted lambskin leather, Lady Dior bag, is also included.

Notes

*Gianfranco Ferré (1944-2007), fashion designer with his own brand, was Creative Director at the House of Dior from 1989 to 1997.

**Toile de Jouy is an 18th century, French fabric style made of linen or cotton, originating in Jouy-en-Josas, south-west of Paris. Traditional Toile de Jouy features elaborate pastoral or wild animal scenes that repeat on the fabric.

References

Christian Dior Handbags

https://www.dior.com/en_us/fashion/womens-fashion/spring-summer-collection

De Klerk, A. (April 3, 2024). The history of the hero: The Lady Dior. Harpers Bazaar.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/a60371355/lady-dior/

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Oh, patents! Louis Vuitton deep-time high jewelry

The YouTube video showcases the Louis Vuitton (LV) deep-time, high jewelry. In particular, a few sweeping shots show the proprietary Louis Vuitton Star-cut diamond, inspired by the iconic LV flower monogram. ✈

Reference
Louis Vuitton Official Site
https://us.louisvuitton.com/

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Oh, patents! Louis Vuitton's proprietary star cut diamond

The House of Louis Vuitton (LV) patented its own proprietary diamond cut, called the Star cut. The LV Star diamond cut was inspired by the iconic Louis Vuitton Monogram flower.

The Louis Vuitton Star diamond cut invention is recited in a family of patents, that includes the US utility patent US2017303647 (A1), titled Cut gem and article comprising such a gem. The patent was granted on October 26, 2017, to Eric Hamers, the French inventor. The patent application was filed by Louis Vuitton Malletiers, in France.

The invention seeks to surpass the brilliance of Princess-cut diamonds by promoting greater light reflection, thereby increasing diamond brilliance. For this purpose, the Louis Vuitton Star-cut diamond has a crown with twenty-four facets, a pavilion with thirty-two facets, and four girdle sides that are identical, each with the distinctive form of an arc of a circle.

Below, an LV diamond solitaire ring, centered with a Monogram Star-cut diamond, and the Star-cut patent Figure 2, showing a bottom view of the LV Star-cut diamond. The scope of the invention extends to gems other than diamonds.

The Abstract of the invention is included below:

The invention relates to a cut gem comprising a girdle (3) having four girdle sides (2) and four girdle corners (1), a table (4) realized by a flat facet, a crown (7) which extends between the table (4) and the girdle (3), in a first direction (H), and a pavilion (13) which extends in a second direction (B), opposite to said first direction (H), between said girdle (3) and a tip of the pavilion (14). The gem is noteworthy in that the crown (7) has 24 facets, the pavilion (13) has 32 facets and in that the four girdle sides (2) are identical in the form of an arc of a circle, the concavity of which is oriented towards the outside of the gem. [Abstract US2017303647 (A1)]

Reference

Louis Vuitton deep-time high jewelry

https://hk.louisvuitton.com/eng-hk/stories/deep-time-high-jewellery

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Terminology - WOTTIES 2025 - The American Dialect Society competing Words of the Year

The terms competing for the Word of the Year (WOTY), are always interesting. The American Dialect Society 2025 WOTY contenders included the following:

the algorithm, n: essentialized view of online algorithms as a unitary, deterministic entity.
amphifa, n: playful resistance movement, as seen in “Amphibians Against Fascism” in Portland (amphibian + antifa).
DOGE, v: eliminate or remove due to inefficiency claims from the Department of Government Efficiency; often get DOGEd.
rage-bait, n: content that intentionally evokes rage, often in a taunting way.
reheat nachos, v: redo something (as music), often in an inferior fashion.
6-7: interjection containing little semantic content, originating from “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla.

The American Dialect Society, also elects Words of the Year in following six categories:

MOST USEFUL WORD OF THE YEAR

☛ “that’s AI”: statement of distrust when determining that something presented as real (as an image) is in fact AI-generated.
clock, v: notice or recognize, often calling attention to a subtext.
diabolical, adj: evil in a fun or shocking way (can be used as an exclamation).
rage-bait, n: content that intentionally evokes rage, often in a taunting way.
recession indicator, n: signal of an impending economic downturn, often attributed humorously to cultural and fashion trends.
rot, v: lounge and scroll social media (evoking brainrot and bedrot).
valid crashout, n: justified mental breakdown.

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED WORD OF THE YEAR

☛ chopped, adj: ugly, undesirable.
glaze, v: effusively compliment in a cringeworthy fashion.
performative male, n: man who superficially appeals to progressive or sensitive ideals through aesthetic presentation.
unc, n: old person, originally an African American Vernacular English (AAVE) shortening of uncle but now gender-neutral.
vibe-coding, n: use of an AI agent to code or assist in coding by using natural-language prompts.

POLITICAL WORD OF THE YEAR

☛ icy conditions, n: coded phrase alerting that ICE has been spotted in a neighborhood.
disappear, v.: remove, abduct, or arrest (a person), as by a government agent.
DOGE, v: eliminate or remove due to inefficiency claims from the Department of Government Efficiency; often get DOGEd (e.g., USAID).
Kavanaugh stop, n: immigration status check in which a person is detained based on social identifiers (referring to Justice Kavanaugh’s opinion in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo).
TACO, n: acronym for Trump Always Chickens Out (as in TACO trade).
vice-signal, v: publicly promote negative or controversial views; antonym of virtue-signal.

DIGITAL WORD OF THE YEAR

☛ slop, n: low-quality, high-quantity content, most typically produced by generative AI; also as a combining form for anything lacking value produced in mass quantities.
the algorithm, n: essentialized view of online algorithms as a unitary, deterministic entity.
clanker, n: pejorative term for AI agents and robots.
Great Meme Reset, n: hypothetical youth movement to reset memes on January 1, 2026.
Italian brainrot, n: mock-Italian memes with generative AI characters (like Bombardiro Crocodilo and Ballerina Cappuccina).

INFORMAL WORD OF THE YEAR

☛ 6-7: interjection containing little semantic content, originating from “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla.
big back, n: a person’s large body, or a large-bodied person (also bigbackery, big back behavior).
body tea, n: attractive physical appearance (reinterpretation of her body tea).
face card, n: undeniable good looks (as in face card never declined).
(X), I fear: indication of mock apprehension, used for ironic effect.
smoke, n: drama or aggression (as in "don’t want no smoke").

MOST CREATIVE WORD OF THE YEAR

☛ reheat nachos, v: redo something (as music), often in an inferior fashion.
amphifa, n: playful resistance movement, as seen in “Amphibians Against Fascism” in Portland (amphibian + antifa).
fridge cigarette, n: euphemism for an ice-cold Diet Coke or similar drink taken from a refrigerator as a refreshment.
lowkirkenuinely, adv: in a lowkey genuine manner (lowkey + Kirk + genuinely), also flowkirkenuinely (flow state + Kirk + genuinely).

References

American Dialect Society (ADL) (website)

https://americandialect.org/

Zimmer, B. and Dr. K. E. Wright (Jan. 9, 2026). American Dialect Society selects ‘slop’ as 2025 Word of the Year. ADL 2025 WOTY Press Release.

https://americandialect.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-Word-of-the-Year-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf