GREEN SCREEN: Dior’s retail expansion in Asia continues apace, with the planned opening of a botanical-themed experiential space in Tokyo.
Dior Bamboo Pavilion is set to bow Feb. 12 in the Daikanyama district, a residential neighborhood referred to as the Brooklyn of Tokyo because of its boutique stores, coffee shops and trendy restaurants.
Like the French fashion brand’s other temporary structures in Bangkok and Seoul, it will have a facade inspired by the architecture of its historic Paris flagship at 30 Avenue Montaigne, topped by the star that was founder Christian Dior’s good luck charm. In Tokyo, the structure will resemble golden colored bamboo plants.
Underscoring the growing synergies between luxury and hospitality, the space will house a Café Dior with an exclusive menu elaborated by Anne-Sophie Pic. Dior has a long-term partnership with the Michelin-starred French chef, whose most recent opening for the brand was a Monsieur Dior restaurant in Beijing.
Vegetation will be a key theme of the Tokyo concept store, which will carry the women’s and men’s collections designed by creative director Jonathan Anderson, spanning ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, accessories and jewelry, in addition to a room dedicated to the customization of the Lady Dior and Book Tote bags.
It will combine brand codes such as Versailles parquet flooring with local touches rooted in Japanese craftsmanship, including ceilings and walls adorned with washi paper, and lanterns in the form of the Lady Dior bag.
Special features will include a conceptual Zen garden designed by self-titled “plant hunter” and landscape designer Seijun Nishihata; a terrace; a pond populated with koi carp made of luminous glass, and a 19,375-square-foot indoor green space conceived by floral artist Azuma Makoto — a tribute to Dior’s love of gardens and his fascination with the creative richness of Japan.
The store will also feature works by contemporary designers including Tokyo-based design studio Takt Project, wooden furniture designer Sho Ota, paper artist Ayumi Shibata, Tokyo design studio We+, textile designer Hana Mitsui, and Chikaken, a collective which makes bamboo lanterns.
Christian Dior first showcased his collections in Japan in 1953, and the house has maintained strong cultural links with the country ever since. The couturier created dresses with names such as Tokyo or Utamaro — after the 18th-century Japanese artist — using exceptional fabrics produced by Tatsumura Textile, a historic silk weaver from Kyoto.
AloJapan.com