Q&A WITH CARINE AND BRIGITTE

After shaping the visual language of modern fashion for decades, Carine Roitfeld brings her instinctive, rebellious eye to “UBS House of Craft x Dior.” Her curatorial approach infuses heritage with immediacy, ensuring that Dior's archive doesn’t sit behind glass. It breathes, provokes, and inspires. Below, she speaks about translating Dior's 80-year story into a living, emotional experience.

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From the Dior Heritage archives, the sketch and details of the Nuit de Singapour ensemble designed by Yves Saint Laurent for Dior.

PHILIPPINE STAR: You've shaped how the world sees fashion for decades. How did you translate Dior’s 80-year story into an emotional experience rather than just an exhibition?

CARINE ROITFELD: The goal was clear to me right from the start: I wanted people to see these archival masterpieces and instantly think, “I want to wear that today.” We knew we had to make these pieces feel urgent and alive.

I'm naturally spontaneous and I don’t like to overthink things. Working with Brigitte Niedermair, who is so thoughtful and methodical with her approach, created a necessary and beautiful tension. She brought precision and structure, giving each piece the reverence it deserves as a work of art. My role was to keep (the pieces) alive, relevant, and a little rebellious. I sought garments that are adaptable and wearable for the modern woman, and still feel contemporary. Through this approach, we highlighted the brilliance of each creative designer across Dior's legacy, showcasing pieces that transcend decades. Everything in the exhibition had to be connected to the present. Nothing could look démodé.

I also wanted people to understand the humanity behind the craft. When you talk to the French about Dior, it’s not just a brand. It's a monument, like the Eiffel Tower. Everyone knows and loves Dior because they first loved the man, Christian Dior, himself. He wasn’t seen as just a designer but as a person with passions, and his warmth is always felt through his work. That’s what made people fall in love, and that love has continued through every designer who followed.