Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia have been thinking a lot about aliens lately. Honestly, who hasn’t?
“I feel like they’re coming,” Kim said backstage before the co-creative director’s ultra-fun Monse runway show, inspired by “UFOs, CEOs and OOOs.”
AI has been on the brain, too. For the first time, the duo utilized the technology as a tool to boost their initial concept.
“What would the Monse world in alien land look like?” Garcia said of the prompt. The result was a surrealist-tinged alien-eye floral splashed across satin shirt dressing, a standout chunky turtleneck and a sheer frock.
“I think it’s a really wonderful starting point. We do four collections here per brand, and it can spark an idea,” he added of their busy schedules with Monse and Oscar de la Renta. Recently, they’ve been melding their designs worlds together while strongly differentiating both lines’ interpretations. Beyond the funky florals, Garcia’s “rebellious” approach to fall’s tougher embroideries (a sheer, layered chain shirt or Swarovski-crystalized bondage-y leather tops) and their playful takes on tapestry certainly upheld the notion.
Also coming full-circle and embracing those who came up with them in the industry, the duo tapped Kimora Lee Simmons’ daughter, Aoki, to walk the show, with the soundtrack crafted by Tina Craig’s son, musician Collin Craig “Star Child.”
“It has to be weird if it’s Monse,” Garcia said, noting that their shared love of film inspired the line’s Monse-twisted ‘50s sci-fi movie poster prints, which looked great on poplin shirting layered beneath utility tailoring, a cheeky knit twinset and a vibrant yellow bias slip.
“Besides the usual Monse DNAs of deconstruction, Laura had a really good idea of having tapestry, which is a traditional technique, mixed with a new concept, which is alien landing,” Garcia continued. “So the juxtaposition of masculine and feminine, modern and traditional is still represented.”
Weird? In the best way. Wearable? Absolutely.
Those tapestry styles — minidresses and a corset with edgy leather straps or jacket and miniskirt — were truly a delight, with the “clashing of traditional” extending into Monse’s well-known deconstructed suiting, with lapels wrapped around the waist of coats and blazers, buckle straps (also seen on a 100 percent cotton indigo denim mini made in partnership with Panasonic and nonprofit organization Around the World in 80 Fabrics), and silhouettes cut with youthful appeal.
“It’s a bit of a military vibe to be protected from aliens,” Kim said.
“It’s being protected from the invasion of AI,” Garcia added.
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