Kim Jones commissioned KAWS to update Dior’s iconic bee motif to a more animated version for his first collection as the new artistic director of Dior Men (previously Dior Homme) at Saturday's runway show during Paris Fashion Week. The pair teased the partnership on social media earlier this week. “Here we go 3 days to the show @dior @kaws 🐝🐝🐝,” Jones captioned an Instagram video, which KAWS later reposted.
In the new collection, the modernized bumble bee logo has been used for jewelry designed by Ambush designer Yoon Anh and appears on some of the clothing. Brooklyn Beckham, who was at the show, wore a sweater from the collection with the new bee motif.
A few models also walked in the show holding bags that carried KAWS BFF plush toys, which were outfitted in Baby Dior. Before the show, Jones shared photos of A$AP Rocky, Victoria Beckham, Skepta, Naomi Campbell, and others holding the same toys.
Jones also tapped KAWS to create Dior’s runway centerpiece for Saturday: a large statue of his BFF character, modified as Christian Dior and his dog, Bobby, made from 70,000 flowers.
In a new interview with the New York Times, Jones said that he feels KAWS is “a really important artist for the generation now.” “You look at things like Hypebeast, and he crosses into them—it’s more culture than art," Jones continued. "Things like that interest me. So I asked him to do the set and to redesign the bee for us because I thought it was a nice way to start a new era.”
If you missed it, watch the stream of the Dior Men show here.
