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Designed with well-structured lines, rounded bow handles, and adorned with charms inspired by Christian Dior’s lucky charms
Born with the name “Chouchou”, the “Lady Dior” bag was created in 1994 by Gianfranco Ferrè, the artistic director of the Maison Dior at that time. The bag - designed with well-structured lines, rounded bow handles, and adorned with charms inspired by Christian Dior’s lucky charms - is made with a leather motif called cannage. The cannage seam is a geometric pattern of squares and diagonals made with Indian cane. It was adopted for the first time by the Thonet brothers in Vienna in the legendary“Thonet Chair”, but even before that, this weaving technique was used in ancient Egypt. Over the years, cannage has become a symbol of the French Maison, displayed in its products and the furnishings of its shops.
Courtesy of Dior
The Lady Dior, a bag that reflects the quintessence of the brand's spirit, owes its fame to the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana. Received as a gift by the wife of the French President Chirac during a premiere of Paul Cézanne, Lady Diana was immortalized with the Chouchou bag, for the first time, during a trip to Buenos Aires in 1996. Since then, she has never separated from it to the point that she made one in Navy Blue to match her eyes. Symbol of elegance and simplicity, the bag perfectly reflected the soul of the Lady, considered by all “the princess of the people”.
Courtesy of Dior
Lady Dior has marked the history of world fashion to such an extent that in 2016 the French Maison decided to launch “LADY DIOR ART”. A new challenge for the French Maison that started collaborating with various artists to create unique and special pieces. Throughout, there have been several proposals made by various artists and designers. Let's find out which are the masterpieces of the seventh edition of “LADY DIOR ART#7”.
Dorothy Iannone - the American visual artist that recently passed away - presents Lady Dior in two versions. The first in denim-effect fabric, decorated with sequin embroidery and stars adorning three Statues of Liberty; the second in glossy black calfskin, with the three Statues of Liberty, embellished with beads.
Courtesy of Dior
Qatari artist Bouthayna Al Muftah imagines the bag as something that can pass on traditions, poems and popular songs. Inspired by books, she covers the bag with chiffon petals carrying Arabic typographic transcriptions.
Photo @Marion Berrin
Courtesy of Dior
The Lady Dior, presented by Californian artist Alex Gardner, reflects his surrealist vision of art. His works use dark tones and ink to create a sense of distance and three-dimensionality. For this project, he uses a modeled oleographic skin and a hand pushing on an ambiguous figure – realized in matt black velvet.
Courtesy of Dior
Rivers of words, with messages concerning the power of women, cover the bag presented by the Egyptian artist Ghada Amer. The bag, in soft colors and with capital letters, is embellished with a sculptural handle.
Courtesy of Dior
Remaining faithful to the Cannage motif, the French artist Françoise Pétrovitch re-proposes the leitmotif bird (often present in her works). Embedded in the DIOR charms, the bird seems to fly over the bag, sometimes escaping from its edges. The handle and the interiors are made of metal, which creates a mirrored effect.
Courtesy of Dior
Courtesy of Vogue
Paper-loving South Korean artist Minjung Kim finds inspiration in her library in Milan, from images of umbrellas seen from above and the sound of the tide to create her version of Lady Dior.
Courtesy of Dior
Photo @ Marion Berrin
Again in the field of paper, the Canadian artist Sarah Cwynar, transforms the bag into a real encyclopedia. Images from music archives, art history books and photos depicting birds, fruit, cars and more cover the Lady Dior's Cannage motif.
Courtesy of Dior
The Chinese artist Wang Yuyang created five bags for the Maison Dior. Combining technology and tradition, through three-dimensional prints and traditional embroideries, he recreates the lunar surface giving the bag a dive into the galaxies.
Courtesy of Dior
The American artist Shara Hughes proposes lively and imaginary landscapes which integrate optical, material and perceptive games. The two bags, embroidered with red velvet or colored muslin flowers, enclose a window that looks out onto a garden. A three-dimensional tactile rose bush embellished with sparkling beads makes the bag even more charming.
Courtesy of Dior
The Russian artist Zhenya Machneva offers authentic sculptures to wear. Metallic structures, architectural designs and geometric shapes contrast tapestries' soft and delicate accents. One of the three models is placed on a removable pedestal with large resin needles.
Courtesy of Dior
Californian artist Brian Calvin designs hand embroidery with threads, beads and sequins. A blue sky and a giant eye motif, the Eye of Truth, the symbol of good luck so dear to Christian Dior.
Courtesy of Dior
Being at the vanguard is not just about using new materials and technologies. Many brands remain anchored to traditions, to their style and, therefore, not far-sighted. They often underestimate that combining fashion with other arts can unquestionably create something exclusive and original. Dior, instead, takes a different direction: transforming a legendary object into a unique work of art.
