Dior Haute Couture show to take place in Shanghai

On Saturday 14th April, for the first time, the heralded house of Dior will show its Spring/Summer '12 couture show at The Bund in Shanghai, showing the allure of the Eastern Yuan and its ultimate necessity for a brand's survival in a tough global market.

Dior, a house defined by its ateliers, craftsmanship, heritage and tradition use intricate detail and supreme technical skill in the blueprints for Christian Dior Haute Couture.  As Head of House, Bill Gaytten has chosen to carry on Galliano's infatuation with the inner life of haute couture by chiefly exposing it in this collection, daring to show an unfinished quality and rawness and adding to its contemporary feel.

The collection is said to be devised of photographic opposites, embroidery is mirrored from black to white and white to black with hints of Dior's classic grey accented by red, deep aubergine, nude and lavender. But it is to Dior's atelier's skill with cutting precision that we turn to see the translucent layers of organdie, plisse and jaquard. The finest thread work, padding stitches and semi embroidered layers builds texture and light weight while showing the ateliers' precision and artistry. These sheer layers expose the underlying construction of the garments.

Christian Dior's ballgowns are unrivalled in their contemporary vision and celebrity appeal while being hemmed in heritage. Does the appeal of the brand outweigh the appeal of the designer in terms of loyalty? With Gaytten still firmly at the helm, we await to see. Regardless, Shanghai will have its Dior moment.