Dior highlights cultural creativity and sustainability

Ready-to-wear garments and creative artworks on display at Dior’s pavilion during the eighth CIIE in Shanghai on Nov 5. — Photo: Dior

THE eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), under the theme “New Era, Shared Future”, concluded recently in Shanghai.

French fashion house Dior returned to the CIIE with a renewed commitment to creativity and sustainability, echoing the cultural dialogue between China and France following the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Participating for the sixth time, Dior showcased emblematic creations, refined craftsmanship and sustainable innovation.

The fashion house highlighted its vision of contemporary luxury shaped by a responsible approach, from material research to artisanal savoir-faire, imagining a future where creativity and sustainability coexist.

At this year’s CIIE, Dior presented a pavilion that explores how nature, creativity and innovation converge within its vision of contemporary luxury.

Guided by the Maison’s Dream in Green strategy, aligned with the LVMH Group’s “LIFE 360” environmental roadmap, Dior advances a sustainable approach that integrates responsible materials, regenerative craftsmanship and long-term climate goals across its global operations.

Marc-Antoine Jamet, secretary-general of LVMH, states that the group has always regarded China as a crucial strategic market and remains confident in its future development.

The group will continue to increase its investments, aligning with China’s high-quality development through deepening cultural collaborations, promoting sustainable development, embracing technological innovation, cultivating local talent and working together to create a brighter future.

Jamet shares LVMH’s long-term vision and concrete actions in the field of sustainable development.

He explains that the group is steadily advancing its “LIFE 360” environmental strategy, which is committed to achieving the 2026 phased goals and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Specific measures include phasing out single-use plastics, reducing carbon emissions and resource consumption, and optimising logistics to minimise the carbon footprint.

In its pavilion, Dior highlighted iconic ready-to-wear silhouettes, cosmetics and accessories, as well as creative collaborations with artists.

The pavilion showcased the classic Bar Jacket, crafted from organic silk and wool and produced through farming methods that limit chemical inputs, avoid harmful pesticides and support soil health and biodiversity.

Other products, including tailored trousers and dresses, are made using responsibly sourced wool, ensuring high standards in animal welfare and pasture management.

In its beauty line, Dior presented a selection of refillable product lines, including Dior Addict, Dior Sauvage and Dior Prestige, reinforcing its efforts to reduce packaging waste and extend product life.

This commitment to creative circularity is also reflected in the Upcycled Animals series, which was presented on-site.

Crafted from meticulously archived and repurposed elements, these animal and insect-patterned decorative objects embody the fashion house’s commitment to giving used materials new life.

Combining savoir-faire and poetic craftsmanship, each piece reveals how preservation and reinvention can coexist, inviting viewers to consider the delicate interdependence between nature, design and sustainable creation.

This creative dialogue was explored in the LVMH Mini Museum space, where Dior presented two emblematic art pieces that reflect the evolving relationship between heritage and contemporary expression.

For the 10th edition of the Dior Lady Art project, Dior features a reinterpretation by Chinese artist Ju Ting, whose sculptural treatment of shifting, layered surfaces creates optical movement across the Lady Dior silhouette – a study in material transformation and visual rhythm.

The piece resonates with Dior’s ongoing exploration of texture, craft and emotion.

Dior also showcased the Miss Dior Prestige Limited Edition perfume designed by US artist Judy Chicago.

The couture trunk and the exceptional bottle, adorned with embroidered bow motifs and a poetic manifesto, pay tribute to Christian Dior’s sister, Catherine Dior (1917-2008), a resistance fighter during World War II.

Through refined craftsmanship and symbolic detailing, the piece celebrates resilience, memory and the enduring expressive power of scent and ornament.

Together, these works underscore Dior’s continued commitment to creativity as a living practice – one that honours heritage while inviting new interpretations, dialogues and forms of sustainable reinvention.

The love for nature has always been at the heart of Christian Dior (1905-1957), the founder of the fashion house.

He drew continuous inspiration from the diverse beauty of gardens and flowers.

This deep connection is reflected in the names of his collections and the motifs of his haute couture dresses.

Today, Dior continues this legacy by operating as a dynamic creative laboratory, engaging its teams in shaping a more sustainable vision of luxury through its Dream in Green strategy.

Built on concrete, measurable objectives and a rigorous scientific approach, this strategy is implemented daily across the fashion house, fostering collaboration and adapting to the specific environmental realities of each region and market.

Building on this approach, Dior has dedicated Dream in Green working groups that bring together representatives from across the company.

These teams coordinate decision-making at the highest level, ensure regular progress reviews in each department and evaluate their roadmap every quarter, with members of the executive committee guiding and accelerating environmental progress.

As this vision is translated from strategy to creation, it begins with the materials that shape each piece.

Dior’s commitment to quality relies on exceptional raw materials, such as leather, cotton, wool, viscose and silk.

It applies rigorous standards for traceability and responsible sourcing, ensuring that these materials comply with social and environmental criteria through certification systems.

Dior’s approach to creative circularity ensures that every creation is designed to last.

This vision is embodied in a circular approach across key product categories, including footwear, leather goods and packaging.

Moreover, the involvement of employees and partners is integral to Dior’s environmental transition.

The company engages its entire value chain, from suppliers and artisans to internal teams, in this shared ambition.

By 2026, Dior aims to train all its employees on environmental issues.

E-learning modules are available to everyone, with customised programmes being developed.

Today, Dior continues to deepen its presence in the Chinese market through its fashion and cosmetic collections, cultural collaborations and long-term sustainability commitments.

Dior’s participation at the CIIE reaffirms this engagement, demonstrating how the luxury brand brings together creativity, craftsmanship and responsible luxury in collaboration with the Chinese people.

“On the stage of the CIIE, our primary goal is not merely to display products but to leverage this platform to draw the attention of both the government and companies to societal development,” says Andrew Wu, president of LVMH Group Greater China. — China Daily/ANN