Despite all the hoopla surrounding reinvented logos and monograms these days, nothing beats snagging the real deal in jacquard canvas. Suffice to say, they’re the O.G. of branded luxury goods that come with a timeless (a.k.a “uh hello, that’s vintage”) appeal. Which is why the almost month-long pop-up for the Dior Oblique goods at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, running from today till July 14, should be on your calendar if you dig heritage fashion.
First launched in 1967 by artistic director Marc Bohan, who helmed the design house from 1961 to 1989, the jacquard canvas pattern has always been part of the cool woman’s fashion lexicon through the ages. Its debut was a hit and occurred right at the height of the youthquake movement when society was emancipating youths and women and defining a modern aesthetic that’s more practical, upbeat and fun.
When John Galliano resurrected the pattern in Spring/Summer 2000 for his hip-hop-influenced collection, luxury goods and logos were the ultimate symbols of baller style. Overnight, the Dior Oblique became part of the millennium – not millennial – monogram fashion culture. Then last year, it was Maria Grazia Chiuri’s turn to transform this archive material into one of the most hyped up patterns of the season.
Since then, she’s embarked on a massive branding (we can’t help it) exercise to reignite the Dior Oblique’s cult appeal, splashing the design on an array of merch spanning bags, belts, phone cases and sneakers. The pop-up event in Singapore serves up M.G.C’s most extensive evolution of this historical pattern. Trivia: The jacquard canvas is still woven by a family-owned atelier in Flanders and has been produced in the same way for over 50 year years.
Besides appearing in bordeaux and olive green colourways, the Dior Oblique can also be customised under the ABCDior service offered at the event – allowing customers skip the wait list and walk home with their personalised purchases within three days. This service allows you to embroider your names or initials on the Dior Book Tote or Diorcamp messenger bags. As for the Walk’n’Dior sneakers, the service lets you pick up to three letters to embroider on the back of the shoes. While you ponder on those options, here are some of the Dior Oblique buys that have caught our eyes.
