Dior & Stone Island Capsule Collection: Opposites Attract

If style is a spectrum, Dior and Stone Island rest on either end. The former descends from Christian Dior — whose last name is said to derive from d’or, or ‘of gold’ — and the Parisian atelier proudly flashes its high-fashion heritage through haute couture and high tailoring. It’s worlds away from the latter, a label named for the seafaring stories of Polish author Joseph Conrad. Known for his adventurous spirit, Conrad’s work inspired the science-oriented sensibilities of Stone Island founder Massimo Osti; on the label’s shores, menswear finds meaning in function — not fashion. Smashed together, these opposing forces are electric: look no further than the Dior and Stone Island Capsule Collection.

“There is a meeting of Monsieur Dior and Massimo Osti’s work for Stone Island in this collection — it is the coming together of ‘obsessives,'” Creative Director Kim Jones says of Dior and Osti. “I think they’d recognize something in each other, and in what they achieved through clothing. Here, in the coming together of contrasting traditions, there’s a new kind of clothing alchemy.” The Dior and Stone Island Capsule proves a romantic cliche: opposites attract.

The models stand against colour wheels and rows of square pixels coloured like paint swabs. It’s easy to pick up on the ‘alchemy’ Jones talks about; each piece captures the essence of its colour. Steely shoes and sweaters wear the cool grey shade of a storm cloud; mustard yellow coats infuse the classic image of a raincoat with sophistication. Dusty rose-pink, evaporated teal blue, purple-blue periwinkle — every colour is a declaration.

As it turns out, Dior and Stone Island have more than a couple things in common. Silk is perhaps the most obvious, weaving a thread from Stone Island’s military-style menswear to the haute couture craftsmanship at Dior. Here, silk becomes an instrument of interpretation: an archived, Spring-Summer 1988 Stone Island jacket, originally composed of cotton and rubber, rises from the ashes — only this time, it’s made from cotton silk and embossed leather.

The labels swap a few trade secrets, too — couture-level complexity underscores every garment. Stone Island’s signature garment-dying technique, for example, elevates Dior’s experimental, garment-dyed embroidery. As you rummage through the racks, the capsule’s rigorous, collaborative nature comes into focus: Stone Island’s compass-rose crest bears a Cannage motif; functional features reconstruct classic Dior derbies and boots with extra-thick soles.

This is an expansive collection, to be sure — there are bags, shoes, shorts, trunks, shirts, jackets — need we continue? Despite the supply, it’s tough to imagine the Dior and Stone Island Capsule lasting long on the shelves. Dior’s history of highbrow design makes it a fashion heavyweight, while the scientific streetwear of Stone Island has amassed a buzzy cult following. Thrown together, the capsule is positively packed with cultural capital.

The Dior and Stone Island Capsule Collection drops on June 14th in Milan, June 18th in London, and June 27 in the US, though Canadians will need to wait for the global release on July 4th.

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