Kim Jones and Dior Partner With sacai's Chitose Abe

Designers partnering up to see their brands anew may just be how we come to remember fashion of the 2020's, whether that be Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons as co-creative directors at Prada, Prada and Balenciaga's 'hacking', or more surprising yet winning collaborations between the likes of Craig Green and Valentino, or Ahluwalia and Mulberry. Kim Jones has always had a sharp eye for collaboration, masterminding the brand mashup of the decade with Louis Vuitton x Supreme, and calling upon a plethora of versatile artists at Dior to create menswear which is always one step ahead. Now Jones has gone one step further, partnering with a fellow designer on a capsule collection. Enter sacai and Chitose Abe.

Take the cult Japanese designer Abe's penchant for elevating wardrobe staples like the bomber jacket and the suit with her now signature hybridisation, where shirt meets jumper and skirt meets jeans, and you'll find it fits right into the world of Kim Jones and the Dior man. Since taking to the helm for S/S 19, Jones has taken the savoir faire of Dior and made it relevant for a new generation, introducing the Dior oblique onto sneakers, creating the iconic saddle bag for men, and giving sartorialism his distinct street savvy charm. The new capsule created by Jones and Abe features sacai staples such as an inky blue bomber jacket and the Japanese denim worker's jacket and jeans, finished with a patchwork breast pocket, popper buttons and double zip. A utilitarian sturdiness underpins the collection; looks are finished with wellington-like boots and blown up leather saddle bags feature clip on water bottle carriers. Styled with berets, now a Kim Jones Dior staple thanks to milliner Stephen Jones, a youthful elegance runs throughout the capsule, such as in a creamy knit jumper - look closer and you'll see a nod to the floral heritage of the French luxury brand, (Monsieur Dior had an affinity for flowers which inspired some of his most iconic designs and of course, the house's first women's perfume).

The 'Dior' and 'sacai' logos have also been combined, with 'sacai' replacing the 'i' in Dior, signalling to the capsule as a hybrid of the two brands as they offer a fresh perspective on Dior. This reflects a shift in the fashion vernacular, as big brands and designers become more willing to openly share dialogues with one another. As old friends, it's refreshing to see Jones and Abe share their private conversations with the world, as Dior continues to evolve for the future.