PARIS: A showcase of haute couture is set to grace Saudi Arabia’s capital as part of this year’s Riyadh Season 2024 whe the “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” exhibition comes to town.
The retrospective is a collaboration between the legendary fashion house and Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, and will run from Nov. 21 to April 2 next year at the Saudi National Museum.
The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the legendary designer’s origins and rise in the fashion world, beginning at 30 Avenue Montaigne and exploring his admiration for gardens, the splendor of the natural world, and his fascination with the grandeur of Versailles and the Enlightenment period.
Attendees will have the opportunity to see a collection of his haute couture creations, spanning from his early designs to those crafted by his successors, with each piece illustrating the house’s artistic innovation.
Curator Florence Muller and set designer Nathalie Criniere have crafted a fresh narrative specifically for the Riyadh show, ensuring a unique experience for both Saudi and international audiences.
Arab News en francais was granted an exclusive preview of the exhibition, from elegant gowns to intricate accessories, each piece told a story that reflected the artistry and innovation at the heart of Dior.
The exhibition’s unveiling took place during a media briefing held at Dior’s Paris headquarters, attended by key figures including Charles Delapalme, Dior’s administrative director, Muller and Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.
Delapalme highlighted the strategic significance of bringing the exhibition to Riyadh, following its resounding success at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris.
Muller expressed her passion and excitement in curating this reimagined showcase for a new audience, aiming to introduce the essence of Dior to Saudi residents.
In an exclusive statement to Arab News, Alalshikh conveyed confidence that Riyadh’s residents will warmly embrace the exhibition and emphasized that the showcase has been thoughtfully adapted to resonate with local sensibilities and capture the spirit of “Riyadh Season 2024.”
Alalshikh further revealed that the Riyadh exhibition will be enriched with exclusive, never-before-seen pieces, hinting at a distinctive local flair that will set this iteration of the exhibition apart.
While anticipation builds for the Riyadh exhibition’s debut, the Paris edition continues to captivate audiences at “Dior: La Galerie.”
