Even though I am interested in shape, texture, style, technique, garments, making and sewing in general, I am not particularly interested or excited by fashion. There are some (few) designers in the fashion world that have created spectacular garments and shapes that challenge what one knows about sewing, making, tailoring. Dior is one of them.
The documentary overlays a text Dior wrote about himself in his Dior by Dior autobiography with the first couple of months or Raf Simons‘ first couture show as the House’s new Creative Director (the Creative Director resigned last month from Dior).
As a sewing and making aficionado, I would have preferred to see more of the work in the Atelier, but there are three things I really liked:
1. The process of designing the new collection
I really liked how Raf Simons plans the new collection: he chooses 12 silhouettes or ideas and crates a folder of inspiration for each. He gives these folders to his team and then they produce around 100 sketches out of which he chooses the very few that will become real garments.
As a maker who doesn’t want to create unnecessary garments and is concerned with minimalism, but loves experimenting with new fabric, shape, forms and ideas, I find this idea of the folder and the research very interesting. One could create one such folder per month, or per season and develop a mini collection that is well researched and well understood – and produce fewer garments that will last for a long time.
2. The Atelier and the wonderful people there
I am not sure why it was so great to see 6 people working together over a piece of mesh fabric, applying minuscule beads and an intricate embroidery that covers a full skirt. But it was. To see the people who make Dior, their smiles, their jokes, their hands, their snacks 🙂
3. The incredible shape of garments
At one point the classical Dior white jacket is looked at closely and you can see that the hourglass silhouette is created not only through smart darts and tailoring, but with tiny over-waist pads that create and control volume.
Photo sources: above –Â Vogue, rest Life Magazine Archive: Dior at work, Dior full floral skirt. Screengrabs from the trailer below.
Have you watched it yet? What did you think of it?