Dior planning Sacai men’s collab capsule for November 2021

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Jun 14, 2021

Think of it as the latest smart conversation between two talented designers. Kim Jones, Dior men’s Artistic Director, and Chitose Abe, designer and founder of the acclaimed Japanese brand Sacai, have been holding a dialogue in a capsule collection to be released this fall.

 
This weekend, the Parisian couture house released a score of images of the menswear collection, which manages to subtly combine the DNA of both marques without ever clashing.  Blending Jones' signature sporty take on tailoring, with Abe’s love of multiple fabric assemblages, the result looks sure to be a highly influential style symphony and  a collection with real commercial clout.
 
The duet marks the latest victory for Chitose Abe, who in the upcoming Paris haute couture season in July, will present the first ever couture collection for the house of Jean Paul Gaultier by a guest designer since the retirement of the French couturier in January 2021.

Two longtime pals, their Dior-Sacai collab synthesizes what’s best in both designers. Abe has long been a huge fan of Aran sweaters, mashing up the Irish cable woolens into multiple garments. With Jones, she turns the Aran into one of Monsieur’s floral motifs, finishing the side panels with contrast details.

 
In effect, this collab also bridges several generations, since Sacai was founded in 1999, while Dior was born in 1946. For starters, they take the letter 'i' that both brands share and place the name 'Sacai' vertically on the 'i' of 'Dior.'
 
The materials are utilitarian – thick Japanese denims; felty cottons; hard-to-scratch nylons. While the color palette is tight: shades of black; midnight blue and white, “evoking a mid-century fashion photograph brought to life,” in Jones' mind.
 
Abe and Jones also tag-team neatly on a new saddle bag, converted into an off-the-shoulder back pack, with matching SLR camera pouch. Add in some high berets and sou’westers by couture’s favorite milliner and long-term Dior collaborator, Stephen Jones, and you get a very original take on Dior duetting with an elevated vision of Sacai.

 
All anchored by revamped versions of Dior Snow and Dior Explorer boots, composed in several contrasting layers, in a Sacai reference.  A twosome that goes as far as the men’s jewelry -  with CD gold-and silver-finish brass necklaces and bracelets finished with Sacai's signature pearls.
 
This men’s couture-worthy couplet will be available at retail, and e-tail, starting from November 2021.