The Dior pre-fall collection runway show held at the Gateway of India monument in Mumbai was a celebration of luxury fashion, Indian craftsmanship, and heritage. The historic site was transformed into a glittering display of color and style, with the iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel serving as a perfect backdrop. The runway, adorned with traditional Indian floral designs, reverberated with fusion beats from live musicians as Indian artistry took center stage in creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s collection.
The show opened with a range of neutrals, subtly transitioning to forest green before giving way to a blaze of bright colors and patterns. The lineup featured silk dresses, evening coats, and sari-inspired skirts that referenced traditional Indian silhouettes. Throughout it all, most of the models sported strings of pearls wound around their necks. The collection was a fusion of Indian and Western fashion, reflecting Dior’s long association with India through the Mumbai-based atelier Chanakya, which works with artisans and underprivileged women.
The creative director of Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri, expressed her desire to celebrate and showcase India’s incredible knowledge and expertise in the field of embroidery. She also highlighted the commitment of Chanakya’s founders to preserving India’s history and culture through each embroidery technique portrayed in the collection.
India has always been known for its intricate embroidery art, opulent textiles, and embellishments. With a young and aspirational middle class that has easy access to the internet and a rising number of uber-rich individuals, India is fast emerging as a key consumer market for international fashion labels. Many Indian designers have also opened stores in global fashion capitals like New York and Dubai and have been showcasing their collections during international fashion weeks.
The guest list for the show was an impressive blend of A-list celebrities from India and around the world. Bollywood actors such as the legendary Rekha, fashion icon Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, and Anushka Sharma, accompanied by her husband, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, were among those in attendance. Western celebrities of Indian origin or descent, including Freida Pinto, Simone Ashley of ‘Bridgerton,’ sitarist Anoushka Shankar, and Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones, were also present. Other guests included actor Maisie Williams from “Game of Thrones” and Thai actors Mile and Apo from ‘KinnPorsche’.
The Dior pre-fall collection runway show at the Gateway of India monument in Mumbai was a celebration of Indian heritage and craftsmanship. The collection reflected the fusion of Indian and Western fashion, and the show brought the spotlight back on India’s luxury fashion market, where major Western fashion brands have presented their collections in the past. The impressive guest list highlighted India’s rising influence as a key consumer market for international fashion labels.