Project
Jonathan Anderson has wowed Dior fans across the planet with his first collections, and that’s a huge vote of confidence for the iconic fashion house, and it’s one which also translates in boosting its retail presence whenever and wherever possible, especially in its most important markets. Needless to say, Japan is one of them. Here, the House of Dior Shinsaibashi, its newest flagship store in Osaka, will officially swing open its doors on Thu – May 21. Prominently located on Shinsaibashi suji, the bustling main thoroughfare in the eponymous shopping district, the store occupies four floors of a building designed by acclaimed architect and longtime collaborator Sou Fujimoto, and which, thanks to a striking, undulating façade, stands out from its surroundings. The interior design is created by another longtime collaborator of the fashion house, New York City-based architect Peter Marino.
Featuring a series of different settings, the aesthetic takes ample cues from the Dior flagship store on swanky avenue Montaigne in Paris. All floors are interconnected by way of an elegant staircase that surrounds sculptures by Alice Aycock. On the ground floor shoppers will find women’s accessories, shoes, and a curated selection of leather goods, in addition to fragrances and fine jewellery pieces from La Collection Privée. This part of the store is adorned by a lush vertical garden. One floor up, the women’s ready-to-wear collection is displayed alongside a range of trophy bags. The third floor is home to the men’s domain, featuring a backdrop or parquet flooring, navy blue armchair with matching rugs, and sturdy chrome displays. And as in any Dior flagship store, the premises are dotted with a curated range of artworks and designs by leading artists and designers that not only signal Dior’s alignment with top creativity, but also elevate the shopping experience.
So, what’s on display? There are works of Christian Bérard, a friend who advised founder Christian Dior at his first boutique, works ranging from artist Claude Lalanne‘s Ginko bench and designer Franck Evennou‘s art furniture, to Tim Hyland‘s reinterpretation of Toile de Jouy. As a final surprise, the encapsulated flowers by Azuma Makoto elevate the art of Japanese ikebana to a new form while delicately telling the story of Christian Dior‘s passion for gardens. Further enhancing this shopping experience at House of Dior Shinsaibashi is Monsieur Dior, a refined diner in a setting conceived by Marino as an homage to the designer’s legendary gardens. The restaurant is helmed by Anne-Sophie Pic, a French chef with the most Michelin stars, who has reinterpreted Dior‘s history and codes, from Cannage to oval shapes and leopard prints, to create a menu specially devised for this exclusive eatery.
