A celebration of Puglia’s traditional arts and crafts. The Christian Dior Cruise 2021 collection and show was a magical affair to remember.

A place close to her heart, creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri chose to reconnect her creative passion with the region of Puglia for Cruise 2021. Highlighting the art of weaving, the essential role of dance, the power of ritual music and even Luminarie - dazzling illuminated architectures, the collection is an homage to the region’s precious culture and unique landscapes.

Long before the many crises of 2020 began to take over, it has forever been an essential for the house of Dior to support and showcase local artists and artisans. “During this period, I sought to give collective efforts a new dimension. Despite the disadvantages of distance, bringing a different perspective to our daily lives has given us strength and imagination,” said creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri.

The collection saw a sea of rich colour, intricate embroidery detail, beautiful embellishments, artisanal jewellery and a layering of effortless knitwear, light cotton dresses, shirts and shorts that are perfect for an Italian escape.

A noteworthy mention goes to the intricately sculpted leather pieces created by Chiuri that revisit the House’s iconic accessories. Inspired by tooling, a traditional Argentine craft used for embellishing equestrian saddles, this unique way of leather working facilitates the engraving of delicate designs with meticulous details. The Lady Dior, Saddle Bag (personal favourite), Dior Bobby and Dior Book Tote, as well as belts, shoes and jewellery are all adorned with precious floral motifs using this special combination of laser-cutting and manual shaping techniques. A new art form, these unique statement pieces pay tribute to exceptional savoir-faire.

A collection that celebrates the memory, values, culture and future of exceptional craftsmanship, along with the extraordinary power of rhythms, rituals, music and dance.

You can watch the documentary offering insight into the development of the Cruise 2021 collection below.

The Christion Dior Cruise 2021 collection is now available via Dior boutiques and dior.com.

To learn more on Cruise 2021, be sure to watch the full runway show in Lecce and don’t miss Dior Chez Moi, the House’s first capsule collection dedicated entirely to loungewear.