Dior Dreamland: The Pre-Fall 2023 Extravaganza in Mumbai

The Dior Pre-Fall 2023 Show brought Mumbai to a close in a blaze of hot pink and spectacular stitchwork.

Dior made history, cementing itself as the very first fashion house to host a seasonal fashion show in India. For the first time ever, the storied French label showcased its Fall 2023 collection at the historic Gateway of India, showcasing the embroidery and craftsmanship associated with Indian artisans on the runway. CNN notes that back in 1967, Pierre Cardin hosted a show in India and that Yves Saint Laurent followed suit in 1989 (Valentino followed suit in 2004), but Dior’s on-calendar show wasn’t just a special one-off exhibition, it offered a chance for creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri to “spotlight the collaboration and friendship” between herself and Karishma Swali, the artistic director of the Chanakya ateliers and the non-profit Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai.

His influences could be seen from the wide and striking range of colours, techniques, decorative shapes, motifs, and materials Chiuri chose for this collection. “It was through this relationship with Chanakya that I was able to learn so much about the artisanal embroidery techniques, which are still found in each and every Indian region, and the unique ability of the Chanakya Atelier to put them in dialogue with the fashion industry,” said Chiuri.

Held in one of the most historic landmarks of Mumbai known as the Gateway of India, the show was just perfect and special! The latest Dior’s pre-fall 2023 collection was inspired by the traditional Indian garments. “This deeply personal tribute to the subcontinent’s culture focused a spotlight on the creative overlap between its wide-ranging mastery of textile crafts and the House’s perpetual devotion to savoir-faire excellence,” The Maison shared in its official account in social media.

Maria Grazia Chiuri decided to incorporate long silk skirts inspired by the sari, flowy trousers, and elegant evening wear as a tribute to India’s culture in terms of clothing, textures, colours, and silhouettes. Some of the designs include a captivating pattern, tie-dye, and a colour palette ranging from bright greens and yellows to deep pinks and purple tones. The relevance of embroidery, traditional Indian costumes, or abstract prints to matching pants, fluid silhouettes, tops or jackets, and pearls were some of the key trends. However, colour gained supreme prominence.

“In the House’s ateliers in Paris, the petites mains can be seen exercising their #DiorSavoirFaire in the construction of pieces ahead of the unveiling of #DiorFall23 by Maria Grazia Chiuri at the Mumbai show. From the execution of sari-inspired draping to the precise folds of a rani pink silk dress or the naturalistic imagery of a ‘Jardin Indien’ print top and a colourful patchwork skirt, the garments exude the energy of this creative fusion of France and India.” – From DIOR.

These colours were chosen as a tribute to French designer Marc Bohan who took Dior under the wing for nearly 30 years.  He marked a new era for Dior, specifically when dating back to April 1962, creative director Marc Bohan travelled to India (Mumbai and Delhi) to converse between France and India. This international connection he established also invited younger customers and a more modern design approach into the Maison.

STAR STUDDED GUEST LIST OF DIOR’S PRE-FALL 2023 SHOW

Held before the magnificent Gateway of India, the event attracted an awesome lineup of stars in Dior, including the likes of Simone Ashley, Cara Delevingne, Karlie Kloss, Mile Phakphum Romsaithong, Nattawin Wattanagitiphat, Sonam Kapoor, Ananya Panday, and more, each in a captivating look from this new collection.

SIMONE ASHLEY

Simone Ashley The “Bridgerton” star actress, Simone Ashley, attended the Dior’s Pre-Fall 2023 show wearing a white Grecian-style floor length gown in ethereal ivory. She also wore a striking choker with dangling pearls that perfectly paired with her dainty studded earrings. A beaded statement handbag also paired her look.

CARA DELEVINGNE

The supermodel arrived in Mumbai for Dior’s Pre-Fall 2023 show. For the occasion, she opted for a warp-printed multicolour cotton coat with a white shirt and shorts, a braided leather waist belt and metallic silver ankle-tie heels, all from Dior.