Garden Of Roses

Dana Koh rediscovers Monsieur Christian Dior’s first love of botany, and the flower that reigns supreme: The Rose de Granville.

- Dana Koh

Picture this: A delicate cliffrose, pale in colour but flourishing in rugged climes just a stone’s throw away from the Dior home. Call it a twist of fate or serendipity, but this chance encounter with the delicate but resilient flower sparked intrigue with a group of botanists who spotted it more than 20 years ago. This led to an almost decade-long research and development mission to unlock and harness its ability to flourish with exquisite vitality amid harsh climates.

BUDDING INSPIRATION

All his life, Christian Dior has drawn inspiration from blossoms. His first haute couture show starred voluptuous silhouettes that cut an elegant figure around a woman’s curves for a collection called Corolle, named after a circlet of petals. “I have designed flower women,” he said.