Dior Pre-Fall 2023 Collection
Beneath the Gateway of India, the fervor of activity added to an already busy Mumbai evening. It wasn’t a parade or traffic but a fashion show. Christian Dior staged its Fall 2023 Collection on a walkway decorated with flowers and candles, alongside a rhythmic orchestra.
Creative director Maria Grazia Chuiri has a recent but special relationship with Indian craftsmanship. For Dior, she commissions Chanakya International, a hand-made embroidery company established in 1984. The company also has an impressive collection of clients including Chloé and Ralph Lauren. But the media or the industry rarely speaks on or widely acknowledges them.
Dior: The Collection
The show opened with a sequence of black minimalist wear, where Chuiri played with draping and silhouette. Ruched shirts and skirts are casually strewn on the body and worn with gold embellished jackets. Additionally, black flip flops are the shoe of choice for this Dior woman, signaling she isn’t going to live in a chilly European autumn.
The spin on traditional Indian female attire is apparent as skirts gather at the waist and pull to one side. Oversized shirts and trousers hint at the traditional salwar kameez worn by men. References to the tropics and warm Indian weather continue further. A line of lime green and hot pink looks arrive with prints of palm trees, peacocks and colorful checkers.
A more obvious reference to the sari appears in a simple, almost monastic design. The garment is similar to Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1967 evening wear in Cambodia.
Subdued hints at glamor mark an end to the show. Long, glittering t-shirt dresses present a masculine take on evening gowns. Models wear bodices with colorful flowers and the wrap skirts are similar to the lehenga.
This Fall collection set in India not only utilizes Indian workers but the creative decision to cater to an Indian audience is a signal that times may be changing. Globalization often only uses the Global South for work in factories. So, will they now be treated as a respected consumer base?
Take a look at some of the highlights of the collection below:
Featured Image Via The Fashion Spot