Kings and Gods Author: Dinah Thomas Publisher: Chongqing University Press

A history of the growth of a luxury goods group and the rise and fall of two talented fashion designers.

A classic work about luxury brands, a documentary literature exposing the dark and cruel inside story of the fashion industry.

More than 20 years ago, when the art and economic situation were both bleak, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen stepped onto the fashion stage. They both wanted to start a fashion revolution unprecedented in that era, shaking up the petty bourgeoisie and minimalist mainstream tradition with their bold and sexy designs.

Galliano and McQueen had similar backgrounds: sensitive, introverted, homosexual, from the lower class of London, their love for fashion was cultivated by their loving mothers. Although they both became famous at a young age, their careers still experienced twists and turns. In 1997, they served as creative directors of two brands under the LVMH Group, whose boss is French tycoon Bernard Arnault.

Galliano and McQueen's influence at Christian Dior and Givenchy went beyond the fashion world. Their distinctive personal styles became the focus of media attention. With the help of these talented designers, the luxury fashion industry quickly grew from a few small, family-run businesses to a global industry with a production value of more than $280 billion. Company executives forced fashion designers to face increasing workloads and deadlines. For the two, this pace was unsustainable. In 2010, McQueen took his own life three weeks before his women's show.

Dana Thomas is a senior culture and fashion writer for Newsweek’s Paris bureau. She has been reporting for The New York Times Magazine since 1994 and has published articles in various publications, including The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, The Washington Post and London’s Financial Times. She is also the Paris correspondent for Harper’s Bazaar Australia and a member of the Anglo-American Press Association and the Overseas Press Club in Paris. From 1996 to 1999, Thomas taught journalism at the University of Paris. For the past 15 years, she has written about fashion and the luxury industry for the Paris bureaus of The Washington Post, Newsweek and Time magazine. Her articles exploring the dark side of the luxury industry are incisive, revealing the truth that brands such as Prada, Gucci and Burberry do not want the public to know.