Need To Know: Moncler Launch Pop-Ups Curated by Highsnobiety and Diesel Lead the Denim Resale Revolution
MONCLER PRESENTS HOUSE OF GENIUS CURATED BY HIGHSNOBIETY’S DAVID FISCHER
True to character, Moncler have made a groundbreaking experience even more exciting. The epitome of fashion, function, technology and innovation, Moncler’s House of Genius latest project MONDOGENIUS brought all of Moncler’s communities together for a digital experience back in September, transporting the audience across five world cities, witnessing the creative visions of 11 designers. Now, MONDOGENIUS has taken its next step into the physical world in the form of global pop-up stores. Starting November 1st, Moncler’s House of Genius will take over the Corner Shop in Selfridges’ Oxford Street with Highsnobiety’s founder David Fischer co-designing the redefinition of the brand’s retail spaces. ‘Being able to work on the House of Genius project was a dream come true,’ explains Fischer. ‘Defining the product range, designing the individual products together with the Moncler team and beyond that to curate other partners such as HOKA, G-Shock, MATTEL UNO and YETI into the range was just incredible. It really allowed me to tell the House of Genius story through content and product. ’The pop-up resembles a surreal mountain lodge terrain, reimagining Moncler’s alpine heritage for tomorrow’s adventurer with a unique and colourful twist.
The House of Genius capsule collection, curated and designed by David Fischer, features exclusive, limited collaborations and reimagined pieces, including key items from all Moncler Genius collections including 1 Moncler JW Anderson, 2 Moncler 1952 Man, 2 Moncler 1952 Woman, 3 Moncler Grenoble, 4 Moncler HYKE, 5 Moncler Craig Green, 6 Moncler 1017 ALYX 9SM, 7 Moncler FRGMT Hiroshi Fujiwara and 8 Moncler Palm Angels.
The project also brings a host of collaborations with brands who were invited to bring their own unique ideas to the creative universe. From hand-knitted sweaters by Canadian brand Kanata, an exclusive UNO deck from Mattel in black and yellow, waterproof bags from German outdoor brand ORTLIEB to Tokyo-based brand Fujifilm presenting its Moncler Genius square SQ20 instant camera; these amongst many more exciting and one-of-a-kind items prove The House of Genius’ international spirit to truly have reached every corner of the globe.
But why should people go and visit? Curator David Fischer says, ‘House of Genius is, in my opinion, one of the luxury industry’s most disruptive concepts, allowing creative directors from different brands to create their interpretations of Moncler and its most iconic products. This year, those stand-out capsule collections are complemented by a strong House of Genius offering, including fashion, gadgets and accessories. Furthermore the rugged outdoors, through the luxury lens of Moncler, are translated into the spaces with collaborations with HOKA, G-Shock, MATTEL UNO, YETI, Ortlieb and other great partners, really making House of Genius an authentic and inclusive experience for all.’
Moncler House of Genius is now available in the UK exclusively at the Corner Store in Selfridges, from November 1st to December 4th and at Moncler Old Bond Street from November 4th to the end of December.
DIESEL LAUNCHES SECOND HAND PROGRAM INVITING ALL TO JOIN THE RESALE REVOLUTION
A new eco-initiative by Diesel called for customers to bring in their old denim for the brand’s buyback program back in the summer, with 900 pairs of jeans being the final figure of collected items that have since been reconditioned and are now back on the racks. This project is giving users the opportunity to be active participants in the large-scale changes that the industry is making in this ‘For Responsible Living’ sustainability strategy, keeping Diesel products active in a creative and inspiring step towards circularity.
The buyback program is still underway at selected Italian monobrand stores, while the reselling phase has now officially launched. The Diesel Second Hand up-cycled collection features meticulously restored and renewed pieces, displaying a red logo stamped across the back of the garment. The Diesel Second Hand items are now available to buy now in 3 selected stores in Italy (Milan, Florence and Rome) and online on diesel.com from within Europe.
Diesel’s main push towards setting up this program was an awareness of certain alarming stats regarding denim and the fashion industry’s consumption and climate impact. For instance, with 7.9 billion people in the world, the average person owns six pairs of jeans; and studies have shown that it can take nearly 4000 liters of water to make a single pair of jeans. In contrast Diesel Second Hand treads lightly: each pair of jeans has been collected in Italy, carefully restored in specialist denim facilities based less than 200 miles from Diesel’s headquarters, then washed once to be sanitised. Additionally, all garments are sprayed with ‘Viraloff’ and Odor Crunch, a combined treatment featuring anti-microbial and odor-resistant properties developed by Polygiene, which allows for reduced frequency of laundering during customer use.
DR. MARTENS AND A-COLD-WALL* UNITED BY SUBCULTURAL HERITAGE IN A UTILITARIAN COLLABORATION
The all-time favourite norm-breakers Dr. Marten’s bring a brand new spin on their famous 1461 shoe reinterpreted in collaboration with A-COLD-WALL*, the young streetwear fashion brand founded and directed by Samuel Ross, London-based designer and former protege of Virgil Abloh. The collaboration brings together both of the British brand’s socio-political symbolism in this architectural re-design of the 1461 shoe, brilliantly encapsulating both of the brands’ recognisable visual language as well as reflecting their working-class heritage.
The aesthetic direction presents a silhouette in the image of brutalist architecture and utilitarian design, one influenced by Ross’ own upbringing. Available to buy now at a-cold-wall.com, the 1461 ACW* is built on an iced sole featuring staple Dr. Marten’s yellow contrast stitching. The smooth black leather shoe features a structural upper design that somewhat resembles the gemotrical shape seen in A-COLD-WALL*’s logo, which appears engraved in silver on the side in harmony with the brushed silver rivets that give the item its neat, high-end finish.
BALMAIN COLLABORATE WITH NETFLIX FILM ‘THE HARDER THEY FALL’, AVAILABLE ON FARFETCH
While this may be Netflix’s first luxury fashion collaboration, the French fashion house Balmain has a long and unique history with cinema partnership since its early days: ‘Pierre Balmain loved using his designs to help tell stories,’ explains Olivier Rousteing, creative director of the Maison. ‘He created the costumes for a multitude of ballet and theatre pieces, and he was responsible for the wardrobes of over fifty European and American studio productions.’ With a fascination and affinity for American film and pop culture rooted in his childhood, Olivier brings his love for the US into a Western inspired capsule in collaboration with Netflix for the new film ‘The Harder They Fall’, which was released globally on November 3rd alongside the new fringe-tastic capsule collection.
Reflecting on the meaning of this collaborative project, Olivier shares how over time he grew aware of the prejudiced and narrow-minded issues surrounding Westerns, a reality of these once childhood pleasures that became troubling. This collection, in turn, is greatly inspired by the way that writer, director, producer and composer of ‘The Harder They Fall’ Jeymes Samuel has created - alongside Jay-Z - a uniquely compelling and modern Western that embraces both historical truths and modern film-making techniques, featuring many strong Black leads and powerful female characters.
This limited edition clothing and accessories collection aims to materialise the bonds between America and France with sophisticated tailored items in denim, jersey knits and earthy tones of suede and leather, with fringe and metal eyelets galore - fitting the Balmain Army both when worn on the avenues of Paris as in the beautiful open spaces of the American West. ‘Olivier Rousteing has ensured that the Balmain brand represents a strength and unity that gives equality to all irrespective of race, gender, or anything else. Much like The Harder They Fall, Balmain is kick ass… a perfect marriage if ever there was one,’ says Jeymes Samuel. The Limited edition capsule is available now only on Netflix.shop, Farfetch.com, Balmain.com and in select Balmain Retail Flagships.
