New frontiers. That’s a fitting description for Moncler Genius, the brainchild of Moncler and an initiative to push fashion and innovation forward through collaboration. Since 2018, the household name in outerwear, designed for the Alps but adapted for the city, has invited creatives from all corners of the globe (think Pierpaolo Piccioli and Richard Quinn) to reinterpret its beloved jackets in a unique way. For Fall 2023, this culminated in an immersive live event held at Olympia London, where 10,000 guests came together to celebrate The Art of Genius.
This year, Moncler looked once more to artists across different fields, designating each creative with a space to call their own and interpret as they saw fit. Who made the line-up? Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Mercedes-Benz, Palm Angels, FRGMT, adidas Originals, Salehe Bembury, Jay Z and Rick Owens. Each leant their unique eye to consolidate the vision of community championed by Moncler.
So, what may that look like? Keys, for example, performed a set at the event while teasing looks from her upcoming collection with the brand, inspired by her true and musical birthplace, New York City. Meanwhile Pharrell, fresh off his appointment as Louis Vuitton’s new Men’s Creative Director, brought the outdoors inside, constructing an environment fitting for his glamping-inspired collection. Meanwhile, Palm Angels put forth an experiential vision of Moncler guided by the senses, inviting London’s Boiler Room to set the mood. The inspiration behind Palm Angels founder, Francesco Ragazzi’s collection? An evolution of his interests in vintage and Americana of course, filtered through the utilitarian shapes and fabrics Moncler is well known for.
The result? An interactive evening that embraced differences of opinion and gestured at what we may wear in the future: multi-functional trousers that unzip into shorts, puffer capes and hybrid hoodies-slash-jackets to wear in the snow or the street.
