Monday, February 20th was one for the culture, ten thousand people made their way to Olympia in West London to celebrate a new vision for the French luxury house, namely – The Art of Genius. An immersive live event challenging the boundaries of possibility at the intersection of art, design, entertainment, music, sport and culture. Unleashing a new vision for Moncler, this year’s roster of Genius co-creators included Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Palm Angels, adidas Originals, Mercedes-Benz, Frgmt, Salehe Bembury, Alicia Keys and Rick Owens who together brought their unique interpretations of Genius.
Fans were teased and told to expect the unexpected – we were personally really excited about it and even talked about it beforehand – and Moncler did indeed surprise us with an unforgettable live performance featuring Alicia Keys, Cleo Sol and Little Simz who performed an awe-inspiring live set of anthems. A nod to her hometown New York City, Keys dedicated her performance to The Art of Dreaming where performers wore the upcoming Moncler x Alicia Keys collection, an effortlessly fluid capsule that Keys describes as “Cool, easy, one hundred per cent New York – inspired by late '90s streetwear, but with a twist.”
Creating very distinct artistic worlds under one roof, Moncler’s heritage was reimagined in ways that went beyond fashion including futuristic journeys and reimagined show formats: from robot peepshows exploring The Art of Love by Hiroshi Fujiwara's Frgmt, to a foam and sound installation presented by Palm Angels who tapped London’s Boiler Room to turn up the volume. The foam, acting as a metaphor for Moncler’s affinity for snow, created a place-non-place where guests were able to explore sound and touch. Francesco Ragazzi, founder and designer of the luxury streetwear brand traced The Art of Lightness to the infinite possibilities we have inside and outside ourselves and further expressed how “the result is a celebration of the individual imagination – a space that can be whatever you want it to be, where freedom and self-expression are enhanced at the utmost.” The Moncler x Palm Angels collection, launching later this year, will explore Francesco Ragazzi’s endless fascination with vintage and Americana, interpreted through his distinctive Palm Angels lens.
Creating very distinct artistic worlds under one roof, Moncler’s heritage was reimagined in ways that went beyond fashion including futuristic journeys and reimagined show formats: from robot peepshows exploring The Art of Love by Hiroshi Fujiwara's Frgmt, to a foam and sound installation presented by Palm Angels who tapped London’s Boiler Room to turn up the volume. The foam, acting as a metaphor for Moncler’s affinity for snow, created a place-non-place where guests were able to explore sound and touch. Francesco Ragazzi, founder and designer of the luxury streetwear brand traced The Art of Lightness to the infinite possibilities we have inside and outside ourselves and further expressed how “the result is a celebration of the individual imagination – a space that can be whatever you want it to be, where freedom and self-expression are enhanced at the utmost.” The Moncler x Palm Angels collection, launching later this year, will explore Francesco Ragazzi’s endless fascination with vintage and Americana, interpreted through his distinctive Palm Angels lens.
Pharrell Williams, the creative polymath and newly appointed Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Men presented his new collection with Moncler and took his vision to the surreal outdoors giving us a psychedelic take on glamping in the wilderness. The collection reinterprets clothing meant for outdoor experiences into refined metropolitan pieces with functionality at its key. When presenting his collection, Williams noted that “The Art of Terrain is taking in the world around you and getting inspired to create something beautiful. If you allow yourself to be open, you can find inspiration in almost anything.”
Further during the night, state-of-the-art sound pods allowed guests to become creators and contribute their vocals to be engineered by JAY-Z’s legendary award-winning producer, Mike Dean. The Art of All by Roc Nation resulted in a community-sourced centred piece; the sound of all. Because the Genius is in all of us, “it is the everyday, it is waking up and using your voice. Genius is everywhere.” says Jay-Z whose collection is conceived as a set of modular elements focused on iconic shapes and reserved palettes, limited to creamy tones of white, khaki, black, and just a dash of bright orange.
In addition to The Art of Genius 2023 lineup, Moncler expanded upon their commitment to new forms of creativity and cross-fertilisation by inviting Rick Owens to be part of the event and showcase his new collection with the French luxury house. Challenging the possibilities of design beyond fashion the Moncler + Rick Owens collection was presented through soundproof steel Sleep Pod where visitors were able to experience Rick Owens’ sleek visions through a monolithic structure for two. The coordinating clothing capsule features flight jackets, puffers, extra-long coats, skirts, shorts and tops in a reduced palette of black and tie-dyed yellow. As the event came to an end, guests were able to loosen up and rave the Monday blues away on the pounding afterparty dancefloor with a roster of DJs including Berlin duo Brutalismus 3000.
Further during the night, state-of-the-art sound pods allowed guests to become creators and contribute their vocals to be engineered by JAY-Z’s legendary award-winning producer, Mike Dean. The Art of All by Roc Nation resulted in a community-sourced centred piece; the sound of all. Because the Genius is in all of us, “it is the everyday, it is waking up and using your voice. Genius is everywhere.” says Jay-Z whose collection is conceived as a set of modular elements focused on iconic shapes and reserved palettes, limited to creamy tones of white, khaki, black, and just a dash of bright orange.
In addition to The Art of Genius 2023 lineup, Moncler expanded upon their commitment to new forms of creativity and cross-fertilisation by inviting Rick Owens to be part of the event and showcase his new collection with the French luxury house. Challenging the possibilities of design beyond fashion the Moncler + Rick Owens collection was presented through soundproof steel Sleep Pod where visitors were able to experience Rick Owens’ sleek visions through a monolithic structure for two. The coordinating clothing capsule features flight jackets, puffers, extra-long coats, skirts, shorts and tops in a reduced palette of black and tie-dyed yellow. As the event came to an end, guests were able to loosen up and rave the Monday blues away on the pounding afterparty dancefloor with a roster of DJs including Berlin duo Brutalismus 3000.
