Sonam Kapoor fell in love with Dior while filming her 2010 Bollywood hit film, Aisha.
For the Emma by Jane Austen-inspired adaptation, then 24 year-old Kapoor, who played the charmingly solipsistic titular role, was dressed head-to-toe in Dior. 'I wore the Lady Dior in that film, that was my signature bag. And I remember it sold out in all the stores in India,' she says.
In the decade since its release, Kapoor's relationship with Dior has flourished and the style star is now a front row regular.
Ahead of her latest trip to Dior's FROW, which also included Rihanna, Elizabeth Debicki, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Natalie Portman, we got ready with the Bollywood actor and mother-of-one.
Kapoor chose a velvet jacket and skirt in Dior's classic 'New Look' shape for the Parisian outing. The set was from Dior's most recent Cruise collection, which celebrated Mexican design and craftsmanship. She says, 'It's so like Maria Grazia to celebrate different regions and speak about them through her work. So, I'm so excited to wear that today.'
Beyond the hotel suites full of Dior samples and sitting front row at Couture shows, her chosen ensemble, which she paired with boots and braided hair, speaks to a larger reason as to why Kapoor loves Dior. Her love of the brand is in part due to Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri's relationship with India and the embroidery craftspeople there.
'What really drew me to Chiuri was how, in India, we manufacture and do embroidery for fashion houses all over the world. But, she was [one of] the first one to not only acknowledge that, but celebrate it,' Kapoor explains. 'That really was very heartening.'
Chiuri notably launched the Chanakya School Of Craft in India in 2020, which aims to train women in embroidery. It is in collaboration with the legacy embroidery and production house Chanakya International, and last year held its AW23 show in Mumbai. 'The fact that she [Chiuri] did the show in Mumbai was amazing.
'It's amazing that someone is actually acknowledging all the work that Indian artisans do. What she does with Chanakya is, is brilliant - her celebration of them,' she says. 'I always see the leadership team from Chanakya at the show, front row.'
Kapoor feels confident and empowered when wearing Dior, which is why she keeps return to their classic shapes and feminine silhouettes. 'What's amazing about Maria Grazia is that she celebrates all kinds of women,' she says. 'So when you see the front row, it's filled with all shapes and sizes and colours, and that automatically makes you feel like a part of that.'
