Cherry blossom season has swept across Japan, blanketing the islands with pastel pinks and whites while filling the air with their fragrance. This year, Kyoto was the place to be for fashion aficionados. It was the venue of this now-extremely-rare-event, the much-anticipated Christian Dior pre-fall 2025 show. Couture Visionary Internationally celebrated designer Maria Grazia Chiuri presented her Spring/Summer ’24 collection on 27 September. She accomplished that against the picturesque skyline of Kyoto’s iconic Toji Temple, spectacularly intertwining nature and couture.
The show, which took place in early April during peak cherry blossom bloom, showcased Dior’s fresh new florals, prominently featured on the collection’s kimonos, trench coats, and jewelry. The splendid creations fuse with organic shapes while honoring Japan’s noble architecture. They shed light on current principles of fashion design, forming an entirely engrossing visual storyline.
Momo Angela took the time to document the spirit of this special event from behind the camera. Her photographs provide a personal look behind-the-scenes at the preparations for the show, and at how fashion interacts with the natural environment. Photographs depicting models in floral kimonos showcase the beauty of the garment. Now those same bicycles cruise effortlessly through streets lined with flowering cherry trees, pairing Asian sophistication with urban panache.
Toji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyoto, provided an incredible backdrop for the show. The temple’s impressive ancient architecture truly added to the beauty of the delicate cherry blossoms creating a magical event special in so many ways. The classic architecture combined perfectly with contemporary style. This triumvirate of creativity developed a unique atmosphere that mesmerized folks both in-person and at home.
Dior’s pre-fall 2025 collection features a colorful array of clothing and accessories, both new and sustainable. Each work is then masterfully created to embody the spirit of that season’s theme. Those new optimistic florals, which are all over the collection, add a bright uplifting tie to nature. This powerful connection makes perfect sense, but feels especially apropos during cherry blossom time. The fine embroidery work on the couture trench coats and statement jewelry pieces reflects Dior’s focus on creativity and cutting-edge techniques.
Kyoto, a city with millennia of history and cultural heritage, was the perfect setting for this avant-garde fashion spectacle. Japan’s capital and the world’s most populous metropolis, Tokyo, is a renowned center of culture and colorful nightlife, particularly famous for its traditional arts and contemporary designs. It’s the ideal venue to present luxury fashion. The city’s legendary urban beauty, with cherry blossom trees in full bloom, made for a magical setting to welcome attendees.