I’m so proud to share that, for the third consecutive year, I have been selected by Dior, the French multinational luxury fashion house for their Journées Savoir-Faire event to help showcase their iconic Lady Dior bag.
Attending the Journées Savoir-Faire event, as an Italian Interpreter for the House of Dior, has been one of the top highlights of my career so far!
Imagine stepping into a world where every stitch, every thread and every fold is a work of art, it’s like witnessing magic unfold before your eyes.
Housed in Dior’s London iconic Sloane Street boutique – a bastion of fashion and history, at the junction of Knightsbridge and Chelsea – the consecutive interpreting assignment meant I interpreted for two Florentine Couture Artisans named Agnese and Elena.
Between them, they have over thirty years of experience designing and creating extremely limited pieces of art for Dior’s prominent VIPs.
The Journées Savoir-Faire event provided a glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into each process for this truly iconic piece. Surrounded by high society clientele, the 300 guests were equally entranced by the sparkle and allure of the world-class bags and the knowledge generously shared by Agnese and Elena.
These ‘pieces of art’ are highly prized by collectors for their beauty and rarity. The care their artisans put into them flowed out into the room: there was an inimitable atmosphere of excitement at this event. It was an honour to be at the centre of it all and experience this one-of-a-kind creative process for myself.
Now, with all this magic in the air, do you think I can get one for Christmas?
The Savoir Faire behind the “Lady Dior” Bag
In a strange way, I have had a connection with Dior from the beginning of my career in interpreting.
My very first assignment was interpreting for the spokesperson for Mohamed Al Fayed, Michael Cole, who was also the Director of Public Affairs for Harrods.
Of course, the link between Mohamed Al Fayed and Lady Diana is well known.
It was a Christian Dior bag formally known as the Chou Chou bag that gained fame as the iconic “Lady Dior” bag due to its strong associations with the late Lady Diana.
In September 1995, Princess Diana was gifted the Chou Chou bag by Bernadette Chirac, the First Lady of France, at the Cézanne Art Exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris.
It is believed that the Princess of Wales loved the gesture so much she contacted Dior to order it in every colour. She was subsequently photographed clutching the bag many times including on the Met Gala red carpet in 1996. Thus the bag eventually earned the name ‘Lady Dior’.
The Lady Dior bag would rise to prominence not just as an accessory, but as a piece of artistry that encapsulated the grace and charm of its namesake. It became a symbol of style and sophistication, carried by Lady Diana, as she made her mark on the world stage.
I loved perusing the photographs of Diana with her numerous Lady Diors whilst in the store. However, few people know that it was not Gianfranco Ferré who designed the Lady Dior, but in fact Daniela Puppa.
The artistry, skill and talent that the event demonstrated is well summarised by the words of Monsieur Christian Dior:
“The value of the human hand is irreplaceable because it gives everything it creates that which no machine ever could: poetry and life.”
The mystique behind the man
Whilst much is known about his creations, I was fascinated to find out more about the man himself during my assignment in Sloane Square.
For example, did you know that Christian Dior was hugely superstitious and used to carry charms and talismans with him wherever he went, including a four-leafed clover? In homage, the Lady Dior bag is adorned with its own delicate “Dior” lucky charms.
On the occasion of his first fashion show, he inserted under the rim of each outfit a little Lily of the Valley, his favourite flower and lucky charm.
He was also obsessed with his lucky number, eight. As a result, so many elements of his career and life incorporated this number.
🎱 Maison Dior was on Avenue Montaigne in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris.
🎱 He carried an eight-pointed star with him at all times, as a lucky charm.
🎱 Dior introduced his eighth collection on the 8th of February, 1947. This was the collection that propelled him to international acclaim.
🎱 Dior frequently used the lotus flower with its eight petals in his designs, signifying purity and renewal.
The essence of repeat business
In the world of business, few things are as precious and rewarding as repeat business.
It’s a testament to trust, to reliability and to the quality of the relationships that I thrive upon building. And my partnership with Dior is a shining example of the value of long-lasting collaborations.
Once you work with a business for multiple assignments you understand and embrace their vision, values and their dedication to craftsmanship.
The relationship becomes smoother and more productive, there’s a deep understanding of the client’s needs, preferences and expectations.
So here’s to the beauty of repeat business, to nurturing partnerships and to the privilege of working with esteemed clients like Dior.
It’s a journey I look forward to embarking on together time and time again.