{"id":34300,"date":"2021-09-10T12:41:43","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T12:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=34300"},"modified":"2021-09-10T14:32:28","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T14:32:28","slug":"showing-their-colors-monses-laura-kim-and-fernando-garcia","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/showing-their-colors-monses-laura-kim-and-fernando-garcia\/","title":{"rendered":"Showing their Colors: MONSE’s Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Monse\"
Fernando Garcia; Laura Kim wears MONSE dress, $990, monse.com. Shoes and accessories, her own.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BY\u00a0TAYLOR HARRIS\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>PHOTOGRAPHER\u00a0MENELIK PURYEAR<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/strong>STYLING<\/span> DAVID THIELEBEULE
\n<\/span><\/strong>HAIR<\/span> TSUKI
\n<\/span><\/strong>MAKEUP <\/span>KARAN FRANJOLA
\n<\/span><\/strong>PROP STYLING <\/span>CARRIE ASHLEY HILL
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The shows will go on.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the decree of the IMG Alliance, an initiative banding together 11 American designers in a collective pledge to show at New York Fashion Week<\/a> for the next three seasons. \u201cWe\u2019re rebuilding the bedrock of New York Fashion Week,\u201d Noah Kozlowski,\u00a0director of\u00a0designer\u00a0relations for IMG,\u00a0tells\u00a0<\/span>Grazia\u00a0USA<\/span><\/i>. \u201cIn partnering with these designers through 2022, we\u2019re safely demonstrating the resilience and artistry of American fashion on a global stage.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In exchange for their commitment, each of the participating designers will receive funding from IMG to help finance their shows. \u201cThe designers who are showing here are, for the most part, independent and don\u2019t have the scale and level of support that some of their counterparts in Europe have,\u201d Kozlowski continued. \u201cSo, this initiative came about very organically, out of countless conversations we\u2019ve been having with designers over the past several months.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pre-pandemic,\u00a0there were countless\u00a0conversations\u00a0of a different nature:\u00a0regarding\u00a0the relevance and ROI of the shows,\u00a0the breakneck pace of the fashion calendar, the implications\u2014environmental and otherwise\u2014of a six-collections-per-year output, the sheer volume of\u00a0<\/span>stuff\u00a0<\/span><\/i>created in the name of newness. Then,\u00a0the\u00a0pandemic\u00a0hit\u00a0and an industry\u00a0often\u00a0pushed into\u00a0hyperspeed\u00a0was stopped dead in its tracks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly two years\u00a0later,\u00a0we\u2019re picking up speed but\u00a0how it resumes\u00a0in earnest\u00a0remains to be seen.\u00a0For insight, we spoke with those who have their eyes on the horizon:\u00a0six designers taking part in fashion\u2019s great Reconstruction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grazia Gazette<\/span><\/i>:\u00a0How is the collection coming along? Where are you in the process of putting the show together?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA KIM: We\u2019re planning the music and casting\u00a0at the moment.<\/span><\/b> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO GARCIA: And editing. We\u2019re focusing on what\u00a0is needed\u00a0to be completed. Creating the story with both the music and casting is my favorite\u00a0part\u2014it\u2019s like a little movie coming to life.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>I imagine you began conceptualizing and developing this collection when things were much worse\u00a0in terms of the\u00a0pandemic\u00a0(pre-vaccine, etc.). Tell me about the mechanics of putting together a collection in a pandemic. Did the design studio meet over Zoom for\u00a0a period of time? What was it like\u00a0sourcing\/working with overseas vendors?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: Fernando and I traveled a\u00a0lot\u00a0pre-pandemic,\u00a0so we kind of already know how to work apart from each other. And our team is very used to working overseas without physically meeting.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>How did the pandemic hinder\u00a0or\u00a0help\u00a0your inspiration? Did you find it difficult to feel creative?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: One silver lining for us was the ability to breathe after a very travel-crazed and hectic five years doing both brands.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: It was\u00a0some\u00a0very much-needed time. It allowed me to\u00a0actually fall\u00a0in love with what I do again, to fall in love with fashion like I did when I was 16. I also really loved having some time to myself.\u00a0I\u2019ve been working nonstop for the last 20 years!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: Same. Luckily, I invested in this Robert\u00a0Stilin\u00a0couch right before the pandemic hit. It is truly my favorite thing in the world. I have been basically living on it, entertaining my close\u00a0friends\u00a0and working from home.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>You were among the few designers\u00a0who\u00a0showed your Fall collection in\u00a0person.\u00a0Why do you think live, in-person shows are so important? What is it about that experience that can\u2019t translate to Instagram or livestream?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: It\u2019s the experience, the music, the environment created by the guests, the movement of the clothes\u2026.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: The moment feels more real. Retouching and perfect lighting can sometimes take you away from reality. With a show, the music, the sound of the fabric moving\u2026 you belong to that\u00a0moment\u00a0and you form a stronger connection with the clothes.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>From what you\u2019ve noticed on the street, are people dressing differently than they did pre-pandemic? Are you?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: Speaking for myself, I am dying to dress up.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: Laura has never been more excited to wear clothes than in the past six months.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: It\u2019s true!\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: I think there\u2019s a real need to feel and look good after the year we\u2019ve all experienced.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: I will say, I do go to the gym in bike shorts and a sports bra. And I will throw on a jacket and go to the office after. I would have never done\u00a0that pre-pandemic.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>Early on in lockdown, when we all really couldn\u2019t leave our homes, most of us reached for sweatpants and slippers. What was the piece of clothing or footwear you found yourself wearing again and again?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: APL\u00a0sneakers.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: James Perse T-shirts.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>The past 18 months have allowed us all to pause\u00a0in some\u00a0form, and\u00a0reassess. How has the pandemic shifted your perspective in terms of your work?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: We\u2019re more careful\u00a0about\u00a0what we\u00a0spend, since\u00a0the future is so uncertain. We\u2019re also really paying attention to the change in our client needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: Designing the same thing we used to two years ago feels like ten years ago now. Adapting to what people are connecting to today is very important. It<\/span><\/b>\u2019<\/span><\/b>s constantly\u00a0changing,\u00a0and we need to keep up. As Oscar\u00a0[de la Renta<\/span><\/b>]\u00a0<\/span><\/b>would say, \u201cYou rest<\/span><\/b>,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0you rust!\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>Certainly,\u00a0cadence and output\u00a0are\u00a0something everyone in the industry has rethought during this time. Is the breakneck pace of fashion\u2014with six collections a year\u2014a\u00a0relic\u00a0of\u00a0the past?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: We\u2019ve reduced the size of the collection\u2014and I think we\u2019ll keep it that way\u2014but having multiple collections is so important. The clients want fresh products often. What we really need to address going forward is the markdown system.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

G<\/span><\/i>G<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>Complete this sentence: the future of American fashion is\u2026\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: Evolving at a faster rate than ever before.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: Anything anyone can dream of. This country stands for freedom of expression.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GG<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>Do you have any exciting\u00a0postshow plans? A holiday perhaps?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LAURA: No, we\u2019re all\u00a0work,\u00a0work,\u00a0work\u00a0until Christmas.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FERNANDO: I guess that means I\u00a0have to\u00a0cancel my plans.\u00a0No Disney World for me!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30655,"featured_media":34302,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[17,16],"yoast_head":"\nShowing their Colors: MONSE's Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia - Grazia USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/showing-their-colors-monses-laura-kim-and-fernando-garcia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Showing their Colors: MONSE's Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BY\u00a0TAYLOR HARRIS\u00a0\u00a0PHOTOGRAPHER\u00a0MENELIK PURYEAR STYLING DAVID THIELEBEULE HAIR TSUKI MAKEUP KARAN FRANJOLA PROP STYLING CARRIE ASHLEY HILL The shows will go on.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s the decree of the IMG Alliance, an initiative banding together 11 American designers in a collective pledge to show at New York Fashion Week for the next three seasons. \u201cWe\u2019re rebuilding the bedrock...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/showing-their-colors-monses-laura-kim-and-fernando-garcia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Grazia USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-09-10T14:32:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/09\/MONSE_feat.jpg?fit=1280%2C720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/showing-their-colors-monses-laura-kim-and-fernando-garcia\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/showing-their-colors-monses-laura-kim-and-fernando-garcia\/\",\"name\":\"Showing their Colors: MONSE's Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia - 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