COOL RANCH

Written by: Rhea Lobo

Monsieur Dior’s love for gardening inspired Kim Jones’ outdoorsy Summer 2023 collaboration with Mystery Ranch...

Christian Dior’s affinity with the countryside is no secret thanks to the abundance of nature-inspired collections archived within Dior’s library. This time, however, the House kicks it up a notch with an outdoors aesthetic that is weatherproof* too, partnering with Montana-based Mystery Ranch. The practical label specializes in high-performance backpacks for outdoor enthusiasts, firefighters, and the military, far from an obvious alliance. Combining the luxury of Dior with the rugged functionality of Mystery Ranch, Summer 2023 is giving ‘lets go on a hike’ energy – and we so want to be that person.

Leveraging their differences, the fashion house and performance label joined forces to create four limited-edition pieces – a backpack, saddle bag, belt bag and wallet – that blend Dior’s signature aesthetic with Mystery Ranch’s adventurous spirit. Dior’s emblematic Saddle bag revamp takes the cake, keeping the conspicuous silhouette, it’s now dressed with a utilitarian buckle and double- zipped compartment… you know, for a survival kit, or pepper spray? Or both? This style spreads like butter across the full collection, a smooth cohesiveness between unlikely allies.

The Gallagator backpack features a sleek black nylon exterior with leather accents, hardware and a ‘DIOR Mystery Ranch’ dual logo emblazoned between the Mystery Ranch signature Y-shaped 3-Zip configuration, on loan to Dior Couture for the collaboration. Reminding us not only of Monsieur Dior’s green thumb but also of the master couturier that he was, tasteful floral embroidery and beading camouflage the backpack cover. It was important for both brands to create functional designs that could be worn in situations beyond extreme sports – statement pieces that are both fashion and function, making the designs must-haves for every cargo-pant junkie.