She’s taken refuge with her family in Rome, specifically with her daughter Rachele Regini, who works as a cultural advisor in the creative department of Dior.
«I am with my daughter Rachele, isolating in our family home in Rome. We are all living through this crisis together, so I think it’s very important to stay calm and take refuge in our creativity. I am extremely fortunate to say that I am well, and that my family and friends are too,» Chiuri explained.
For Chiuri and Regini, they now share an apartment in Rome’s historic center, offering panoramic views of the city’s steeples and cupolas, as well as an orange garden where cloistered nuns find solace.
Chiuri is known for her collaborative approach to design, but with the physical distance from her team, she’s had to adapt to new methods of staying connected.
«Technology is helping us to stay in touch, with meetings via FaceTime and daily phone collaborations. The staff of the atelier in Paris are working from home and they send me photo updates or videos of work in progress,» Chiuri stated.
Italy has been heavily impacted by the pandemic, but Chiuri remains optimistic. She applauds the efforts of Italian fashion brands and Dior in producing masks and sanitizers for hospitals. Her priority is to support the Italian factories they collaborate with.
As for the fashion industry, Chiuri recognizes that change may be on the horizon. «There is something out of sync in our industry. It’s crazy that most people sell most of their collections before they show their clothes on a runway,» she noted. While she’s not sure what the future holds, she believes adjustments will be made.
Reflecting on her latest Dior show titled «Rivolta Femminile,» which celebrated rebellion against societal norms, Chiuri now acknowledges the importance of social distancing. Looking forward, she is unsure if the old ways of staging fashion seasons with extensive travel will change, but she is focused on adapting to the present.
«I don’t think it’s wise to go out of your way to try to predict the future; I simply think there will be some adjustments to make, and that we have to be ready to embrace these changes,» Chiuri concluded.
