Both Chiuri and Dior have a long history with India and this was embraced for the collaboration through work relations and friendship. She has a close friendship with Karishma Swali, the director of Chanakya atelier and Chanakya school of craft. Chiuri first began working with the atelier two decades ago and the collection relies on their mastery of embroidery and traditional Indian techniques, while putting emphasis on empowering female Indian artisans and their inventiveness.

Dior’s relationship with India goes even further back, with former artistic director Marc Bohan
travelling to India in 1962 to showcase looks in Mumbai and Delhi.

Chiuri paid homage to the initial meeting by incorporating a quote found in the archives, ‘L’Union fait la force’, meaning ‘Union is strength’ into the collection, visualising how working together creates fresh connective energies, like combining classic Dior silhouettes with traditional Indian designs.

The show took place at the Gateway of India monument in Mumbai, which was built in the early 20th century to commemorate the British monarchy’s first-ever visit to India. The arch is a metaphor for the fusion of cultures and traditions. Erected in front of the arch was a 14-meter-tall Toran, an embroidered fabric traditionally hung at the entrance to welcome guests into your home. It featured elephants, tigers, and peacocks and took 35,000 hours of handwork and encompassed 25 craft techniques. The Chanakya ateliers and School of Craft worked together over several months to create it using phulkari, french knotting, kantha, and mirror work techniques. After emerging from the Toran, models paraded between dozens of gold candles and ornate arrangements of marigolds.

The 99 models, with many being Indian, wore bright-coloured silks, traditional Indian cuts, boleros, gold and silver, and sari-inspired skirts. ‘Zardozi’, metal embroidery, and ‘Ek Taar’, elaborate embroidery using a single thread, adorned the outfits.

Celebrities also came out in force, from legendary cricketers to famous Hindi actresses.

Simone Ashley

Celebrating her 28th birthday, Simone Ashley styled this white Dior gown with a pearl necklace, a common theme in the collection.

£ 605

Michael Lo Sordo Silk-satin camisole

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£ 4310.20

Dior Lady Dior Leather Handbag

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£ 710

Dior Montaigne Long Necklace

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£ 475

Gucci Leather Thong Sandal With Double G

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Anushka Sharma

Attending with her husband, actress Anushka Sharma paired a yellow silk Dior gown with a yellow mini Miss Dior bag.

£ 2290

Bottega Veneta Washed Silk Dress

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£ 3695

Dior Lady Dior Small Bag

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£ 850

Dior & Moi Slingback Pump

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Raja Kumari

Rapper Raja Kumari wore a metallic green sari from Delhi-based designer Rimzim Dadu.

£ 1320

Rimzim Dadu Jade Green Metallic Sari

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£ 490

Dior Revolution Earrings

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_{Words by Lucy Walshe}

^{Header Image by Indranil Mukherjee}

The post Dior Celebrates Indian Talent In Mumbai appeared first on Voir Fashion.

In India, citizens are facing horrific realities as hospitals become completely overwhelmed and supplies such as vaccines, oxygen, and beds are in high demand but very short supply during the country’s second wave of coronavirus. 

An outcry for help from many citizens can be seen across social media channels as they have nowhere else to turn. Last Thursday, India reported 314,835 new Covid-19 infections which is the highest daily increase in cases worldwide since the pandemic began.   

The outbreak has resulted in India’s cases alone comprising almost 28 percent of new cases worldwide in the previous week. India is also dealing with a new variant, resulting in a more overwhelming state for the country as scientists attempt to calculate the risks of the new variant. 

Why is this happening?

It’s obvious that actions (or lack thereof) taken by the government have massively contributed to India’s current state of emergency, but not alone. Wealthy western countries are hoarding supplies of the vaccine; less than two weeks ago Vox reported that the limitations to vaccine exportations that both the UK and the US put into place were seriously affecting India.  https://www.vox.com/2021/4/18/22390493/india-vaccine-shortage-export-ban-covid-19 

Rich countries with 14% of the world’s population have secured 53% of the best vaccines. Almost all of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines will go to rich countries. The Moderna vaccine will go to rich countries exclusively; it is not even being offered to the poor. In fact, nine out of 10 people in poor countries may never be vaccinated at all. – Fatima Bhutto for The Guardian

India’s vaccination rollout plan aimed to vaccinate 300 million by September 2021, yet a study by John Hopkins University Data found that only just over one percent have been given full doses. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/region/india

Whilst events being allowed to continue such as the BJP election rallies contributed to this rise in cases, exportation limitations put in place by the UK, US, and European Union have all been a factor in this with the UK holding enough vaccines to vaccinate its population five times over.

What can I do to help?

Social media is being used as an outpour of cries for help from citizens, many documenting the horrific realities they’re facing in regards to their friends and family members. But social media should not just be used for documenting the emergency state India is operating in, it can be used to help.

Use Your Platforms

Use your social media platforms to spread awareness of the current situation in India to alert your friends, family, and followers who may not keep up to date with the latest news. Just one person learning from your shared posts is enough.

Follow this through with talking to those around you about the situation, discuss, don’t ignore. This horrific situation and the role that western countries have played in it can lead to helpful discussions better informing your choices of who to support in upcoming elections.

Donate 

Give India is taking donations for specific reliefs, such as helping with oxygen supplies, donating food, and providing sanitary products.

Action Aid is taking donations to provide money to those seeking food and healthcare as well as organising vaccination camps that target smaller communities that could potentially be otherwise forgotten.

This Google Document contains a vast amount of links to help in many ways with the ongoing crisis.

Words By Megan Selway

The post India’s Humanitarian Crisis: What’s Happening and How You Can Help appeared first on Voir Fashion.