Case study: Polished black PVD stainless steel store fixtures and garment display for Christian Dior, Macau

The City of Dreams

The Christian Dior boutique is located in The City of Dreams, a luxurious Mall in Macau housing over 100 stores. The interior of the Dior store continues the design theme created within the Parisian store by architect Peter Marino.

The use of Black is Black PVD adds drama and depth without departing from the signature dove-grey and silver colour theme. The durability of the PVD stainless steel made it ideal for the hanging rails and garment tabs. Panels within the merchandise display units were also fabricated from PVD in Black is Black creating a simple, unifying theme. Shelf-edges are also fabricated from Black is Black PVD providing a seamless continuation.

The exterior of the store, with the famous Cannage, or canework, emblem has been enhanced with the use of PVD coloured stainless steel in bronze. This provides a very soft effect against the soft grey-blue of the exterior light-box cladding.

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Order a sample of Black is Black PVD coloured stainless steel

Order a sample of Bronze PVD coloured stainless steel

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The designer himself

In 1905 Christian Dior was born in Normandy, France, one of five children to Maurice Dior and his wife Isabelle. Christian resisted his family’s urge to enter into diplomatic service and instead pursued his artistic activiites. Robert Piguet employed Christian from 1937, after the Dior family business collapsed. Christian joined the army but once he left he rejoined the world of fashion and started working for Lucien Lelong where he worked alongside Pierre Balmain as joint head designer. Controversially, during the war the only way for fashion houses to survive was to design dresses for the wives of Nazi officers. The Lelong establishment were not the only fashion house to do this – Jean Patou, Jeanne Lanvin and Nina Ricci were also forced to carry out this work.

In 1946 with the backing of Marcel Boussac, the so-called richest man in France, Christian Dior set up his own fashion house.

The address of the first Dior store was 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. All other Dior stores are modelled on this first one as Dior had said “I will set myself up here and nowhere else” This Napoleon III chairs in this store gave birth to the famous Cannage motif, or motif of rattan, or canework, which has become the emblem of the brand.

Dior’s first collection, in 1947, was the famous ‘New Look’ (despite his actual name for this being ‘Corolle’). The term ‘New Look’ was given by the Carmel Snow , the editor of Harper’s Bazaar.

Christian Dior died in 1957 whilst on holiday in Italy.

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Peter Marino

Peter Marino is a striking figure in the world of architecture and looks more like a fashion designer than an architect in his signature biker outfit.

He was born in 1949 so at the time Christian Dior died, Peter Marino would have been eight years old. It is entirely possible that Peter Marino would have been aware of Christian Dior even at this young age. We can only surmise Christian Dior would have greatly approved of this architect’s work continuing the representation of this famous brand.

Peter Marino first became known for his work on Andy Warhol’s project and from that began to be hired by the glitterati in the US and Europe. Marino’s first retail project was in 1985 designing Barneys New York.

Marino is now favourite with luxurious brand designers and also works for Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Giorgio Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Armani and Chanel.

His company, Peter Marino Architects PLLC , is based in New York and his two favourite materials are leather and silver

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