EXHIBITION ON THE MOVE: The highly acclaimed retrospective “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” is preparing to embark on the next leg of its remarkable global journey.
Originally launched at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2017, this impressive exhibition was created in honor of the illustrious fashion house’s 70th anniversary. Now, it is poised to make its next appearance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this coming November, coinciding perfectly with the vibrant Saudi Season festival, which showcases a rich array of music and cultural experiences.
The exhibition will run from November 21 until April 2 of the following year, hosted at the Saudi National Museum. For this special presentation, the curatorial team, including noted fashion historian Florence Müller and scenographer Nathalie Crinière—who also crafted the original Parisian exhibition—has thoughtfully reimagined the narrative to resonate with this unique setting.
What follows is a captivating exploration of the brand’s remarkable history spanning seven decades. Visitors will be invited to discover the significance of Dior’s iconic headquarters located at 30 Avenue Montaigne, as well as the designer’s deep-seated passion for gardens, the beauty of the natural world, and the regal elegance of Versailles.
This iteration of the exhibition features a stunning collection of haute couture designs by Christian Dior, alongside creations from his successors at the house, including renowned designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and the current creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Following its successful debut in Paris, the “Designer of Dreams” exhibition has traveled to various cities, each time adapting its presentation to align with the cultural backdrop and historical connections of the region. For example, at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the exhibit highlighted Dior’s fondness for the United States, where he established his presence merely a year after launching his fashion house in 1947. Similarly, in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, the show explored connections to British fashion, while in Tokyo, the scenography from December 2022 to May 2023 celebrated Dior’s admiration for Japanese culture.
Additional presentations have taken place at the prestigious Long Museum West Bund in Shanghai and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chengdu, China, further expanding the exhibition’s global reach.
This will not mark the first occasion the exhibition has graced the Middle East; it previously captivated audiences at Doha’s M7 fashion and design hub in late 2021, where it showcased Dior’s exquisite designs and the cultural relevance of the brand in the region.
