Dior Celebrates The Region Of Puglia With Cruise 2021 Collection
“A lyrical love letter to the perpetuation of savoir-faire and the beauty of women”
Whilst the world is currently adapting to a new way of life following the COVID-19 pandemic – and slowly beginning to return to a sense of ‘normality’ after numerous months spent in lockdown – Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri stepped back in the opposite direction and took a trip down memory lane for her latest Cruise 2021 collection.
In a vision set out to explore her family roots and celebrate local craftsmanship, the Italian designer presented Dior’s latest show in Lecce - an enchanting Baroque jewel in Puglia, in southern Italy. Whilst making the decision to go ahead with physical shows this year, despite the ongoing impact of the global pandemic, Chuiri spoke about the importance of supporting one of Italy’s poorest regions.
“So many people depend on our work,” she explained to Elle, local artisans had been commissioned to work on the collection back in November and the event itself involved a performance from local dancers alongside an orchestra playing traditional Salento music. It was these factors that were crucial for the show to go on, to give a story behind the historic and personal inspirations behind the collection.
As the Piazza del Duomo was lit up by luminarie – traditional Pugliese colored lights usually used to decorate local festivals – models graced the runway effortlessly in embroidered gowns, lace frocks and fringed skirts, created using techniques from the regions native craft and craftspeople taught by the Constantine Foundation. Kerchiefs were the key accessory of the show, sweaters were hand-knit and flat shoes prevailed, something expected due to Chiuri’s ‘the key to fashion is comfort’ philosophy. The dresses and skirts held a soft structure from two-color textiles, which Chiuri then accessorized with handmade natural leather corsets to bring a focus to the waist.
The inspiring show was nothing less than the perfect ode to Puglia, its culture, and exceptional craftsmanship. “The Christian Dior fashion show represents a very important acknowledgment for the city of Lecce,” said one local in an IGTV video Dior posted on Instagram the day before the Livestream. “It could have been held in any other city in the world, considering the importance of the house. And if it’s here, it means it was chosen among many. [It is] also due to the richness of this city’s artisanal activities. Salento is not just about its beautiful landscape, but it’s also about the talents of its people.”
Watch Dior’s Cruise 2021 Show below
All photos: Courtesy of Dior
Next up, Louis Vuitton’s Women’s 2021 “Game On” Cruise Collection Is Elegantly Powerful & Playful
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