Dior X Parley: A Stylish, Sustainable Summer
Dior’s Kim Jones teams up with eco-activist group Parley for a selection of unique, environmentally conscious beachwear, sustainably designed for adventure.
Dior and Parley for the Oceans join hands in calling for change within the fashion industry through a sustainable collection of beachwear. Made from Parley Ocean Plastic, the Beachwear Capsule line was reimagined by Dior’s acclaimed artistic director Kim Jones and dropped on 14 April. Right on time for Earth Day on 22 April and exciting summer days ahead.
Parley for the Oceans is a collaborative network addressing major ocean threats with its AIR Strategy: Avoid, Intercept, Redesign. The environmental organisation has previously worked with Adidas, artist Kenny Scharf and singer M.I.A. to raise awareness of ocean pollution.
This creative alliance with Dior translates the genuine intentions of the iconic French fashion house to move toward a more eco-innovative and sustainable future for fashion.
Cyrill Gutsch, CEO and founder of Parley for the Oceans, explained that the creation of this first collection with the fashion house is a clarion call for the fashion industry to revolutionise its production methods. “With the latest science highlighting the dire urgency of action, we need transformational change in every sector of society to end the rapidly unfolding impacts on both humans and nature and protect our future on this magical blue planet,” said Gutsch.
A joint research project started in 2019 and introduced new yarns and fabrics, designed from Parley Ocean Plastic. These materials are upcycled from marine plastic debris as well as fishing gear recovered from coastlines and remote islands across the globe like the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Then, the gathered items are engineered into high-performance materials by the Parley global network.
Stemming from Monsieur Christian Dior’s adoration for flowers, gardens and oceans — “a fascination cultivated from his childhood along the English Channel” — the collaboration takes inspiration from the relationship between Dior and the wonders of nature. And sharing this love for and desire to preserve the magnificent undersea world is English fashion designer Jones.
Through eco-innovation, Jones seeks to use responsible materials to produce clothing that is just as stylish and coveted. The artistic director of menswear said he began efforts to introduce more sustainable fabrics right after he arrived at Dior four years ago, as per WWD. “We do that a lot. It’s just something that’s not really talked about, so I said, let’s do a collection where we can talk about it because it’s important,” Jones said during a preview.
Sustainably Designed For Adventure
The artisans of Dior’s ateliers reworked Ocean Plastic to fashion high-quality fabrics like jacquard, a technical canvas and an ultra-breathable mesh knit. The dedicated team worked in palettes of blues and ochres to weave beautiful patterns like the house’s signature Oblique and a ripple graphic motif from the archives known as the Adriatic.
These patterns appear on cool, summery and travel-friendly products, from shirt jackets and poplin pants to water bottle holders. Meanwhile, Dior’s beloved B23 sneakers come in a variation on the Adriatic fabric and have bio-based plastic soles.
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According to Highsnobiety, the Dior team applied an additional 2 per cent of fabric whenever necessary — polyamide into the mesh for sturdiness; chiné silk and cotton lend softness to shirt facings.
As chic as it is, the collection also widely features utilitarian functions, where jackets can be packed into attached pouches and H-Town sandals utilise climbing-inspired cords for an adjustable fit. Moreover, terry layers will wick salty ocean moisture.
This selection of unique, environmentally conscious beachwear unites “the promise of a contemporary look and a brighter tomorrow”. Additionally, the collection supports Parley’s X10 impact program which guarantees that ten times the equivalent of each item’s carbon and plastic footprint will be intercepted from nature.
The Beachwear Capsule is available on dior.com and Dior stores carrying menswear. It will be renewed every Summer.
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