The atelier, a living organ where savoir-faire and savoir-être meet, where mind and hand work in unison, is the emblem of the Dior haute couture spring-summer 2022 collection, envisioned by Maira Grazia Chiuri.  This vision honors human relationships with handmade objects, expressing a desire to abolish the boundaries between art and craft once and for all.

A symbol of the atelier’s original excellence, embroidery is not just a decorative detail, but a structural and architectural component. The embroidery stands out from and interacts with the material, allowing it to interplay with the surrounding air, as seen for example in the contrasting of a long, all-over embroidered ecru skirt with a sheer silk organza shirt.

The tights, a signature of the collection, derive their spectacular dimension from embroidery to establish a lively dialogue with different pieces.  Maria Grazia Chiuri reasserts the syntax and grammar of the atelier, these singular silhouettes are the fruit of the encounter with the Indian artist couple Madhvi and Manu Parekh, the Chanakya Atelier and the Chanakya School of Craft. An inspiring creative dialogue, at the crossroads of art and craft.

Elsewhere the embroidery establishes a lively dialogue between pieces, from a grisaille-bedecked grey suit to evening dresses that marry the finesse of embroidery with the lightness of tulle, through a series of draped leotards. Cashmere coats embrace the silhouette and sleek capes in resplendent white conceal jacket-and-pant ensembles. Pleated skirts billow under structured coats, while the silver lamé jacquard fabrics of dresses highlight each movement of the body.

These embroidered patterns, through which Dior’s heritage is reinterpreted, become the central element of the collection.  A vision that makes the atelier a collaborative mode of expression, where haute couture is a form of constant experimentation and questioning.