Curations: Dior artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri reimagines the classic running shoe with the new Vibe sneakers, with a spirit of couture that pays homage to ancient Greece

For its new Cruise 2022 womenswear collection, French fashion house Dior has reimagined the running shoe with a new collection of sneakers that have all the hallmarks of luxury, combined with the simplicity of a contemporary design.

The Vibe sneaker is artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s take on the classic running shoe, where sports footwear is taken off the track and into the world of couture Dior, and given a makeover that pits contemporary sneakers against a futuristic aesthetic. The resulting Vibe shoe features a chunky, flexible sole with white mesh and transparent materials, and the sneakers also feature gold and silver inserts. The brand’s signature star charm – the founding couturier’s lucky emblem – is artfully cast on the back of the sneaker, while “Christian Dior” is embossed on the tongue.

The sneakers take centre stage in Dior’s Cruise 2022 collection, which was inspired by the temple of Zeus – the original Olympian – and honours Greek mythology and physical prowess. The entire Cruise collection, which pairs a youthful, sporty-ethereal vibe with Dior’s luxury style, was unveiled in the summer on a specially designed catwalk at the ancient Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. While the city’s association with sport speaks to Chiuri’s inspiration for the Cruise collection, it was also chosen because the collection makes its debut 70 years after an iconic Dior photoshoot at the Acropolis.

The Cruise 2022 collection also features updates to Dior’s existing sneaker lines, including Dior-ID, which now comes with a blue, red and white transparent textured rubber sole, as well as the D-Player trainer and Walk‘n’Dior high-top sneaker.

With the Dior Vibe sneaker, the brand marks the beginning of a new era in athletic wear and fitness. In October, following the launch of the Dior Vibe line, the maison announced a partnership with exercise equipment maker Technogym to produce a limited-edition series of upscale fitness products. The announcement followed hot on the heels of Dior signing a two-year deal with football legend Paris Saint-Germain. Fashion and sports fans will have to wait and see how a French couturier interprets the official wardrobe of a football team.