CREATIVE ALCHEMY

The alliance between Dior’s Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri and the Chanakya School of Art has turned the global spotlight on the unparalleled heritage of Indian artisanship

- MEHERNAAZ DHONDY

The recently held Dior Fall 2023 show didn’t just make the headlines for the spectacular showcase that unfolded on our home turf, but more for the celebration and patronage of Indian craftsmanship that has been a result of the creative alchemy between the brand’s Creative Director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and the Chanakya School of Art and it’s Artistic Director, Karishma Swali. The duo, whose friendship dates to the last 30 years, have since explored multiple embroidery techniques underpinned by heritage and innovation, to accompany Dior’s collections and shows.

Some of these include artistic collaborations such as Dior’s Spring/Summer 2020 haute couture defile where the Chanakya School of Art contributed towards the textile creations constituting the set of the show (conceived with feminist artist Judy Chicago), sharing a common goal to preserve the craft of embroidery, and even the Dior haute couture Spring/ Summer 2022 show featured textile art via the work of artists Madhvi and Manu Parekh (this was produced by the Chanakya Ateliers), which constituted the set design of the show, held at the Musee Rodin in Paris.