Here’s How Dior Is Making One of Its Signature Patterns New Again

Sami Chazonoff March 21, 2022

Many brands have been exploring the idea of taking one of its past — and popular — motifs or patterns and making it new and fresh again. It’s another confirmation of the fact that trends go full circle and innovation, and invention can oftentimes be even better with just a sprinkle of history. If it’s not broke, no need to (completely) fix it, right? That’s not to say that creating things that are completely new and modern doesn’t matter. On the contrary. Innovation is important but in the fashion world, fusing something familiar and nostalgic into a modern-day collection or item, definitely holds value. These styles and symbols were popular for a reason so using them and modernizing and improving them, incorporating them in the present and future, is a tried-and-true way to stay relevant and keep up with the times while offering something new and still paying tribute to the roots of your brand.

We’ve seen luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton do this — and do it well. Taking collections and symbols from the brand’s heritage and repurposing them in current collections. For instance, with their Louis Vuitton x Nike sneakers for auction, where they created a pilot case for the sneakers which was a reinterpretation from the house’s archive — taking something full of history and significance and building on it. Another brand that’s been exploring this concept is Dior.

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For the Dior Men Summer 2022 collection, Artistic Director Kim Jones re-examined the CD Diamond pattern which was originally designed by Marc Boahn in 1974. The initials “CD,” revisited in the manner of a clean-cut diamond, take new shape as an enchanting pattern on cotton canvas — a true celebration of the House’s heritage — taking something historic and beloved and bringing it back to life through ultra-modern pieces.

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The collection sees the reimagined pattern in three main colourways: Dior grey, black, and coffee as they are applied to a range of leather goods including the Saddle, Dior Hit the Road backpack, Dior Lock briefcase, and more. The infamous “CD” letters are designed by hand and then applied in a repeating all-over style pattern using a silk-screening technique. Although the leather goods in the collection come solely in grey, black, and coffee, the CD Diamond line also features the signature pattern in additional colourways on a range of accessories, jewellery, and clothing.

The motif — and products it appears on — is non-negotiably modern and representative of the luxurious yet youthful spirit of Dior. Yet this new-again pattern exemplifies Dior’s craftsmanship and brilliance and expresses more than ever the brand’s significant history and heritage.

See the full Men’s CD Diamond line here.