Kim Jones took to Tokyo to launch his second menswear show – Dior Men Pre-Fall 2019 – with an army of androids and a new artist partnership. Here’s what went down before and at the show.
The word “futuristic” came to mind when I stepped into my room at Palace Hotel, Tokyo, and saw the metallic silver cardboard figurine invitation in the form of robot to the dinner the infamous Robot Restaurant amongst the press materials laid out tidily on the table the night before the Dior Men Pre-Fall 2019 show.
Photo: @yoon_ambush
At the restaurant, drummers, dancers and all sorts of machines put on a cabaret while esteemed guests (including Kim Jones himself) ate from their custom bento boxes. Could the tone of what to expect from the collection be articulated any clearer? I guess not.
Photo: Dior
The crowd was already making their entrance into the show space at Telecom Centre Building when I arrived. While a giant KAWS figure took centre stage at Jones’s first Dior Homme show, this time, it was a female robot sculpture with a reimagined Dior logo created by contemporary Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama, which stood tall in the middle of the spherical catwalk.
I later learned that the 11-metre tall piece, which has been in construction since mid-September, took 20 days to paint and weighed a staggering total of 9,150kg.
I only managed to snap a few photos before hurried to find my seat. I looked over to the front row on my right and saw it packed with celebrities, artists and designers, including Kate Moss, David Beckham, Bella Hadid, Takashi Murakami, A$AP Rocky, Diplo, Hiroshi Fujiwara, and of course, Sorayama. As the show began, lasers beamed the imposing robot woman irradiating her metallic silver body.
Inspired by the “hypermodern reality of Japanese culture” for the Pre-Fall collection, models walked out dressed in a collection that married classic craftsmanship with contemporary fabrics and detailing. My eyes were drawn to the futuristic articulation on the slim panelled jackets, which were layered on roll-necks that bore the refreshed logo and shirts with digitally enhanced lace hems and cuffs.
Most looks were accessories with the Matthew Williams hardware, on the Saddle bag and harnesses, as well as bionic jewellery by Yoon Ahn. The collection also included a range of metallic pieces – such as the puffer jacket and a standout suit – where the iridescent effect bordered on being hypnotic.
In addition, as I expected, there were Japanese-influenced looks. Case in point: Kimono-style wrap-over jackets and carrot trousers rendered in black leather and grey houndstooth tweed, and completed with a couple of chunky buckles.
On the more moderate end of the spectrum, some looks – think a set of a silk shirt and shorts – boosted cherry blossom and android motif designed by Sorayama.
If I had to sum up the show in a single phrase, it’d be: welcome to the future.
(Swipe below to see the celebrities who attended the show)
