HW Endorses

Dior’s Resort collection celebrates the craftsmanship and beauty of Africa.

byVALERIE WONG

The Uniwax wax fabric requires a laborious process of about 20 steps to print, and has no right side up or inside out.

Make in Africa

If the aim is to buy better and invest in quality craftsmanship that’s truly authentic, we can’t think of a better way than to add these pieces from Dior Resort ’20 to your wardrobe stat.

A tribute to the continent of Africa and drawing inspiration from Morocco, the collection featured collaborations with African artists, and was presented in its capital, Marrakesh. Forming the backbone of the 60-look collection was Dior’s collaboration with Uniwax. Based in the city of Abidjan in West Africa, the atelier specialises in African wax fabric, a luxury material that’s reminiscent of Indonesian batik.

Now, as the first luxury house to centre an entire collection around it, Dior has put this African textile in the spotlight, championing local craftsmanship and “Made in Africa”. Not only were all the cottons used for this wax fabric grown, spun and printed in the continent, the brand’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri also gave free rein to Uniwax artists in the design process.

The result is an eclectic mix of Dior motifs (like Toile de Jouy prints and tarot cards) represented in traditional African illustration styles, on capacious jackets and wide skirts – a nod to loose Moroccan caftans. – VW

The collection also includes collabs with artists such as Mickalene Thomas, who reinterpreted Christian Dior’s iconic Bar jacket with beading and embroidery.

A Sporty Twist to Your Workwear

Take the office dress code down a notch by pairing traditional sports attire with smart work separates. Wear a hoodie under a boxy blazer, or a swimsuit with a sleek pencil skirt or pinstriped pants.