Maria Grazia Chiuri at the Musée de Cluny in Paris ahead of the show. Photo by Laora Queyras
For their show tonight in Scotland, Dior riffs on their signature toile de jouy by blending it with the esoteric visions of the region.
In seeking a newness to breathe life into their collections, designers often reference the past. This is just what Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri is setting out to do as she premieres her Cruise 2025 show in Scotland, framed by the formal terraced gardens around Drummond Castle.
Her show last season paid homage to Mexico City’s craftsmanship, blending Dior’s classicisms with bright embroidery and artisanal textiles. For this year’s cruise collection, we can expect to find the same treatment toward Scotland and the history embedded in every stitch of its late medieval tapestries.
In a countdown to the show, the French house hinted at Chiuri’s inspirations, documenting her visit to the Musée de Cluny in Paris to see see the series “La Dame à la Licorne.” “The figure of the lady is surrounded by floral elements and accompanied by the unicorn and other animals found in early medieval bestiaries, all of which are associated with different virtues such as purity and love,” Chiuri comments on her personal Instagram. “The Unicorn is one of the primary elements of Celtic mythology associated with divine power, pride and strength. Chosen as the Scottish national animal since the 12th century, it symbolises purity and innocence, but also fortitude and independence—difficult to capture or conquer.”
She adds, “All of these symbols will be celebrated and reinterpreted in our next Dior Cruise 2025 show.”
Chiuri also pays homage to historical figure Mary, Queen of Scots, who spent decades embroidering “as a means of comfort and reflection.” She says, “Even when she used simpler stitches, the intricate symbolism that she depicted on the canvas provide us with a fascinating insight into her feelings and ideas.”
As we await the Cruise show set to air tonight, we can only revel in this deep history and the mythologies that hail from the region. All the same, we can expect to find what Chiuri offers with every one of her Dior collections: a celebration of craftsmanship in all its forms, and a nod to one more story of an inspiring female leader.
