How Chiara Ferragni & Dior Are Promoting Local Italian Craftsmanship
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A Dior cruise show is usually a star studded affair. In fact, pre-pandemic, the modus operandi of any luxury house’s resort extravaganza was to line up as many influencers as possible to ensure maximum coverage.
However, due to the health crisis, last night’s Dior Cruise show in Lecce, located in southern Italy, took place without its usual physical audience let alone a roster of celebrities. However, there was one exception: Chiara Ferragni.
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But this wasn’t just a case of ‘rent a celebrity.’ Ferragni was on hand to help Dior to promote local Italian craftsmanship and boost the economy of the Puglia region.
The influencer turned entrepreneur joined forces with Dior and cultural travel company If Unique Art Experiences to make a promotional film to help stimulate the local economy and encourage tourism to the region — especially vital in the wake of the pandemic.
Ferragni and Dior have a combined Instagram following in excess of 50 million (20.5m and 38.1m respectively) so the partnership is a powerful one.
Dior artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri used the show as a platform to highlight the Puglia region’s age old artisan traditions. With sensitivity to cultural appropriation at a high, she obviously wanted to ensure that the brand gave back to the area.
To this end, she collaborated with local ateliers that preserve traditional weaving and lace making techniques and incorporated their workmanship into the collection.
Even the light installations designed by feminist artist Marinella Senatore were created by local specialist Fratelli Parisi. Just like the house’s fall ’20 show in Paris these featured zeitgeisty phrases and one, “We rise by lifting others,” felt particularly apt.
Much of the show’s jewelry, including intricate gold hoop earrings, was inspired by Ori di Taranto, an antique jewelry collection on display at the National Archeological Museum of Taranto.
Chiari visited the museum with Chiuri earlier this week. Museum director Eva Degl’Innocenti, speaking today to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, said that the visit sparked a 96% increase in traffic to its Facebook page plus its highest ever rate of engagement on Instagram.
“Thanks for choosing our beautiful Lecce. So glad to be part of this project and show the world our Bella Italia,” Ferragni wrote on one of Dior’s Instagram posts about the show.
The Blonde Salad creator is a long time friend of the brand and its LVMH parent. She sat on the LVMH Prize committee last year — and let’s not forget her wedding to Fedez in 2018. She wore three bespoke Dior Haute Couture gowns for the occasion plus a pair of custom created white slingbacks featuring her name where the Dior logo might usually appear.
Public attitude to influencers has changed drastically during the health crisis. Case in point: Arielle Charnas. The Something Navy founder experienced a drastic backlash after her posts on social media regarding her own pandemic experience and fleeing New York City after testing positive were dubbed insensitive.
As a result, brands are increasingly careful to employ celebrity traction wisely so as not to come in for criticism. Dior Cruise’s project with Ferragni is a good example of how to get it right.
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