Tsuktiben Jamir
Christian Dior is no new name to the world of fashion; it is one of the leading brands of fashion in the market and is known for its elegant, sophisticated, and opulent designs that revolutionised the fashion industry. It is loved for its superb craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. In an exciting collaboration between Fashion and Art, the Creative Director of Christian Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri is teaming up with well-known contemporary artists Madhvi Parekh and Manu Parekh, as well as Karishma Swali, the Creative Director of Chanakya International and Co-Founder of the Chanakya School of Craft. Chanakya is a craftsmanship school for women based in Mumbai. This exhibition, which will be titled ‘mūḷ māthī : from the roots’ will be curated by the Asia Society India Centre.
Regarding this exhibition, Asia Society India Centre has given us a sneak peek into what to expect from the show on their Instagram post, writing, “Bringing together the worlds of craft, contemporary art and fashion, the exhibition celebrates artisanal legacies and reflects on the importance of their continuity. Stay tuned for exclusive behind-the-scenes access as we explore the confluence of these multidisciplinary and collaborative practices.” Mark your calendars, because they have also declared the timeline for the exhibition that will be held between 28 March and 22 April 2023 in a recent post.
Courtesy: Vogue
This is not the first time that Marcia Grazia Chiuri has been drawn to the dynamic and varied cultural country of India, known for its rich history of embroidery and craftsmanship. In fact, in 2022, with the assistance of the women artisans from Chanakya School of Craft in India, Marcia had also previously collaborated with Madhvi Parekh and Manu Parekh to create a series of 22 artworks that ran from floor to ceiling and served as the breath-taking backdrop for Dior’s spring/summer runway show during the Paris Haute Couture Week.
Yet, another upcoming collaboration that we are excited for is the unveiling of Dior’s pre-fall collection at Mumbai’s Gateway of India, on March 30, 2023. The Business of Fashion has stated that this collection will feature traditional Indian silhouettes, such as evening coats, silk dresses, and skirts modelled after saris, will be included in the next Dior collection. Moreover, a number of Chanakya’s embroidery will also be found in some of the pieces.
Marcia told Business of Fashion that her objective of collaborating with Chanakya supports her objective of transforming Dior into a company with a feminine sensibility and feminist ideals. This show will make history as the first ever independent exhibition by a European major fashion company in India.
We can’t help but be excited for the recently announced collaboration among Maria Grazia Chiuri, Madhvi Parekh and Manu Parekh, and the Chanakya School of Craft. It is definitely an exciting blend that will likely push the limits of creativity and innovation. We cannot wait to see how this cooperation turns out and what effect it will have on the fashion industry and beyond.
Dates:
28th March – 22nd April 2023
