The story goes like this: A bag crafted from the supplest of leathers and stitched to emulate Napoleon III chairs, designer by former Dior creative director Gianfranco Ferré, was gifted to Diana, Princess of Wales, by ex-French first lady Bernadette Chirac in 1995. It wasn't until 1996 that the bag was named Lady Dior, in homage to Princess Diana's irreverent style.
Gregg Bleakney
This icon has continued to reinvent itself season after season, year after year. However, this 2019 marks the first time 11 female artists of different generations and nationalities have been chosen to reinterpret the Lady Dior bag, and champions unconventional femininity with the most unexpected of savoir-faire.
Meet the talented collaborators behind the project:
Pae White, USA
Djenaba Aduayom
Pae produces evanescent works that seem to be freed from the law of gravity with shimmering fugues of suspended colours. She chose the dichroic material because when the sunlight reflects off it, an array of colours is presented. The Lady Dior is adorned with orange-gold jewellery; the constantly shifting iridescent exterior contrasts sharpkly with the quilted black velvet lining.
