A year after her arrival as artistic director, Camille Miceli presented her first Pucci collection in Florence. The choice of venue is an homage to founder Emilio Pucci and his ancestral home. Dubbed “Initials E.P.” the brightly colored collection mirrors the rich Tuscan palette on the banks of the Arno.
A mission patch designed by Emilio Pucci for the Apollo 15 crew in 1971 inspired Camille Miceli’s collection. Air and space impart a pulsing freshness to silhouettes as delightfully surprising as they are sophisticated. A flowing caftan in the Pesce motif opened the show, followed by luminous all-white looks, knits enlivened with the Girandole print, and denim reworked with the signature Marmo print. Beach looks featured long zip pulls like those on wet suits, embellished with strass. Shimmering silk twill is laminated with gold foil for an iridescent effect on dresses. Accessories are equally fun, including the Daily bucket bag or the Puccinella in straw, paired with platform sandals or pointy heels embellished with little fishes. Floaters printed with colorful Pucci prints are the new musts for the season. The finale was a huge wow: a dazzling balloon silhouette, followed by eight catsuits in Pucci prints, layered with gold jewelry and a T-shirt assembled from chains to close the show.
The sky is the limit for this new collection ready for takeoff from Florence to the moon.
Finding a new ingenious way of talking about feelings and emotions that can connect us with a country and its culture is precisely what Maria Grazia Chiuri wished to accomplish in this Dior Fall 2023 collection, with a view to explaining the collaboration, work relations and friendship linking her for many years to India and Karishma Swali, who directs the Chanakya Atelier and the Chanakya School of Craft, in Mumbai. A place of exchange, study, and emancipation for many women, a laboratory to explore different types of savoir-faire that the Creative Director of Dior women’s lines has long celebrated, highlighting thus the visionary spirit of the founding-couturier.
The archives reveal Dior models created by Marc Bohan, the then Artistic Director, who traveled to India in April 1962, notably to Mumbai and Delhi, initiating conversation between France and India. For Marc Bohan, these presentations were significant events, heralding a new departure under his artistic direction: younger customers, and a more dynamic, contemporary approach to fashion and ready-to-wear.
Maria Grazia Chiuri has chosen color palettes and materials that crystalize key influences shared with Karishma Swali of Chanakya. The Creative Director of Dior women’s collections works on timeless clothing shapes that have stayed intact through time, allowing her to (re)design her favorite models. A color block sequence dedicated to silks – in shades of green, yellow, pink and purple –, in homage to Marc Bohan, comes in the form of sophisticated evening coats, sari-inspired straight skirts and traditional Indian cuts, as well as pants, boleros, jackets and tops: a veritable sartorial genealogy defined by different heritages and fashion cultures.
The embroidery – both protagonist and search engine, opens up all the possibilities of this craft – and becomes a tool for appraising, through the relationship between Dior and the Chanakya Ateliers and the Chanakya School of Craft, the multiple landscapes of India: this cartography mixes and spotlights the various techniques which, via the School’s work processes, become the realm of a woman’s legacy and an instrument at once of inventiveness and empowerment.
Geometric shapes frame in gold the silver sequins and strass; bewitching decorative motifs come forth in this kaleidoscope of colors on the silk of pajamas, blouses and dresses. The revisited toile de Jouy stands out in a vaporous palette of green, much like a camouflage magnified by elements of Indian landscapes populated by lucky-charm animals dear to this plural civilization.
The collection, presented in Mumbai*, becomes the expression of a shared territory thanks to this project, which fully celebrates the collaboration between Dior and Chanakya. This creative dialogue perpetuates precious illustrations of exceptional savoir-faire, confirming the unfailing bond between France and India.
*With the support of Directorate of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra and the Indian Authorities in Mumbai.
Fendi and the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici have unveiled their stunning collaborative refurbishing of six reception Salons at Villa Medici, including the majestic Grand Salon. Carried out with support from the Mobilier National*, the project features a new décor inspired by creativity and contemporary design.
Kim Jones, Artistic Director of Couture and Womenswear, and Silvia Venturini Fendi, Artistic Director of Accessories and Menswear for the Italian house, have led a metamorphosis of Villa Medici that creates the heritage of tomorrow. Inspired by the desire to create a singular creative dialogue, their interpretation combines a range of skills spanning design, interior fittings and conservation/restoration, expressing the emblematic signatures of both the Maison’s artistic directors, as well as Fendi Casa, and guest designers.
Six mythic reception rooms at the Villa have been transformed under the expert hands of French and Italian designers — Chiara Andreatti, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Toan Nguyen and brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. The Belleville Armchairs by the Bouroullecs, produced by Vitra, are given pride of place in the Grand Salon. The 150-square meter room hosts events on the Villa Medici’s culture program (concerts, performances, conferences, installations and more).
This integration of contemporary design pieces in the historic rooms of Villa Medici reaffirms Fendi’s commitment to the preservation of artistic heritage through exclusive partnerships and patronage initiatives. The initiative resonates with the Maison’s deep ties with the Eternal City, a major source of inspiration throughout the project.
* The French state agency responsible for conservation and restoration of art collections and national heritage objects, and for promoting and passing on exceptional craft savoir-faire.
Founded in Cologne in 1898, RIMOWA is a global benchmark in premium luggage, synonymous with expert German craftsmanship. The Maison’s new partnership with Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB), the German Football Association, continues this ongoing celebration of its remarkable heritage. RIMOWA luggage will equip DFB’s women’s, men’s and U21 national teams for the years to come.
RIMOWA and DFB enjoy a long history together. RIMOWA accompanied the team to the World Cup in 2006 and to Sweden the following year for the U21 (under 21) European Championships. And RIMOWA equipped German players with a specially-designed collection during their World Cub victory in Brazil in 2014. This partnership has now been renewed as RIMOWA becomes official luggage partner of the DFB for the coming years.
“We are excited and extremely proud of this partnership with DFB. Our German heritage is something we deeply cherish at RIMOWA so it’s very meaningful to see the national teams carrying our suitcases. This, and our history together, makes this partnership particularly special,” says Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert, Chief Executive Officer of RIMOWA.
Both men’s and women’s teams will shortly be equipped with RIMOWA Original Cabin and Check-In L suitcases in Silver. The U21 team will carry Essential Cabin Check-In L suitcases in Black Gloss. Each suitcase will feature RIMOWA’s meticulous attention to detail and be proudly emblazoned with the official DFB eagle logo.
Through the EllesVMH program, initiated by Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH Executive Vice President Human Resources and Synergies, the Group has for the past 15 years been actively engaged in promoting and supporting the professional development of women. A host of initiatives have been introduced to achieve our goal of gender equity in Group key positions by 2025. We have already gone from 23% women in these positions in 2007 to 45% today. What’s more, some 65% of the LVMH Group’s executives and managers are women, and 18 of the CEOs of our Maisons and Divisions are women.
To accelerate this momentum, the Group is supported by thousands of women and men who are members of EllesVMH regional networks around the world. Together, they continually support career growth for women, especially during the month of March, which celebrates women’s empowerment.
EllesVMH networks around the world have been very active, giving voice to the Group’s talents during an impressive lineup of events around the theme of transmission.
