BY JAY AQUINO

NOVEMBER 21, 2025

Singapore’s fashion landscape has long been defined by its polished energy and appetite for luxury, but this month, the city has played host to something far more profound than shopping. The UBS House of Craft x Dior exhibition is an immersive exploration of Dior’s most defining eras, which surely will become one of the region’s most meaningful cultural moments. And this exhibition, unlike many of the glossy, photo-op constructions that pass through Singapore, was not created by committee. It was shaped by two women whose names ring like passwords in the fashion world: Carine Roitfeld, whose career needs no introduction, and Brigitte Niedermair, whose lens has redefined the stillness and strength of Dior’s imagery.

IMAGE SOURCE: UBS & DIOR

Singapore has always understood luxury with a kind of serene matter-of-factness. The city-state stands today as one of the world’s strongest luxury markets, with spending projected to climb 7 percent to $13.9 billion in 2025—outpacing Japan, China, and South Korea. This makes Singapore not only an obvious choice for Dior’s Asia debut of the UBS House of Craft but also a deeply strategic one; as fashion increasingly grapples with global economic shifts and evolving consumer values, Singapore remains a rare constant: stable, discerning, and consistently invested in craftsmanship and heritage.

Carine Roitfeld, the iconic editor, stylist, and founder of CR Fashion Book, was at the helm of curating this ambitious showcase. She immediately recognized the resonance that such an exhibition would have in Singapore. As she noted, “Curating and presenting UBS House of Craft x Dior for its Asia debut in Singapore has been incredibly meaningful. As a city that embraces innovation and tradition, Singapore felt like an ideal place to celebrate fashion craftsmanship at the highest level.”

For Roitfeld, her goal was to tell the story of Dior in a way that honored its extraordinary lineage while speaking directly to a modern, Singaporean audience. “To ensure that the showcase resonates with local audiences, this edition introduces new visual and archival references that connect Dior’s story to Singapore and the wider region,” she said.

IMAGE SOURCE: UBS & DIOR

Her approach was neither nostalgic nor chronological. Instead, Roitfeld sought to build a narrative woven through the House’s values and creative evolution—from the iconic ‘New Look’ of Christian Dior in 1947 to the distinct aesthetics introduced by Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Rather than overshadowing one era with another, each is presented as a chapter in a larger, still-unfolding story.

This narrative harmony was achieved through a unique partnership with acclaimed photographer Brigitte Niedermair, whose work has long been celebrated for its sculptural precision and almost meditative quality. “Collaborating with Carine Roitfeld, who curated the exhibition, we took on the behemoth task of capturing nearly eight decades of Dior, giving these iconic haute couture creations a modern perspective,” Niedermair shared. Her intent wasn’t just to document archival pieces but also to translate their essence into a new visual language.

“Rather than following a chronological timeline, we wanted to show Dior as an ongoing conversation across time, highlighting its enduring identity and dedication to craftsmanship while allowing each creative director’s vision to shine through,” she added.

This “conversation across time” is one of the exhibition’s most compelling triumphs. It offers a rare opportunity to see how each creative director interpreted and reinterpreted the codes that Christian Dior once laid down: the cinched waist, the architectural silhouette, the meticulous tailoring, and the femininity that was always both soft and strong.

IMAGE SOURCE: UBS & DIOR

For Roitfeld, this journey led to a rediscovery—particularly of Marc Bohan, who led Dior from 1960 to 1989. His “Slim Look,” which defined an entire era, is presented with renewed relevance. Bohan was often described as the quiet master of Dior, a designer whose restraint and elegance stood in contrast to the theatricality that would later define the Galliano years. “In the process, I rediscovered the legacy of each creative director and found myself particularly drawn to Marc Bohan’s designs, whose timeless wearability demonstrates that true craft endures far beyond spectacle,” Roitfeld said.

This idea of endurance—of craftsmanship that resists ephemerality—is foundational to the exhibition. At a moment when the word “craft” has been diluted by overuse, often reduced to a marketing term even by fast fashion brands, the UBS House of Craft reasserts its original meaning. As Roitfeld noted, “UBS House of Craft reminds us that some things are still worth the time, dedication, and care.” She further underscores the value of craftsmanship today, adding "Craft, at its core, is about the irreplaceable human touch, the hours of honing one’s skills, the deep understanding of materials, and the dialogue between maker and medium that cannot be replicated. In today’s luxury landscape, this kind of craft is even more precious because it embodies time itself, which may be our ultimate luxury.”

Niedermair echoes this sentiment in her photographic process. Working exclusively with analog photography on a 4×5 inch camera, she approached each shot with an almost couture-like methodology: slow, intentional, and precise. “For this exhibition, I chose to work with analog photography on a 4 x 5 inch camera. The slower, deliberate approach to achieving an almost three-dimensional quality… mirrors the meticulous savoir-faire of couture itself. Every exposure required care and intention, reflecting the hundreds of hours of handwork invested in a Dior garment,” she explained.

IMAGE SOURCE: UBS & DIOR

Her images—quiet yet powerful—capture more than clothes. They capture movement, structure, and the intelligence of design. “Couture is meant to move, drape, and exist in space around the body. Translating that into photography requires the same patience and precision that goes into making couture itself,” she said. It is this alignment between maker and photographer, between garment and image, that gives the exhibition its emotional weight.

Niedermair’s long-standing relationship with Dior has been instrumental in shaping her artistic voice. “My long-standing relationship with the House gave me the confidence to think outside the box and push creative boundaries,” she said. This trust extended to both her and Roitfeld, who were granted rare access to Dior Heritage archives—an honor that allowed them to reinterpret iconic pieces with modern eyes. “This trust gave us the creative freedom to reinterpret iconic looks through a contemporary, sometimes unexpected lens, while remaining true to Monsieur Dior’s founding principles of femininity, elegance, and structure,” Roitfeld shared. Together, Roitfeld and Niedermair have created a bridge between past and present, between Paris and Singapore, and between visionaries separated by decades yet united by a dedication to craft.

This exhibition reminds its audience, who are accustomed to speed, novelty, and constant change, of the power of slowness, intention, and human touch. As Niedermair hopes, “I hope visitors leave with a deeper appreciation of the meticulous craft behind couture, as well as the thoughtfulness behind every photograph.”

Discover UBS House Of Craft here.