Our favourite designers reimagine Moncler’s ski style

A year after launching its innovative Genius Project – an extravagant rebranding exercise of sorts – Moncler made waves last night in Milan with the reveal of 11 collections presented side by side, each designed by guest collaborators.

Matthew Williams of 1017 ALYX 9SM, Richard Quinn, Veronica Leoni, Sergio Yambon and Poldo Dog Couture joined an impressive line up of designers, enlisted by the French-Italian outerwear brand to rethink its identity.

But this third iteration was bigger than ever, presenting a thoughtful, contemporary take on the puffer jacket and other après-ski gears. Framed within the motto “one house, different voices,” this collection featured additional pieces by returning collaborators including Craig Green, Simone Rocha, and Francesco Ragazzi for Palm Angels.

Here are the ones that caught our eye:

Richard Quinn’s printed bodysuits with a touch of nostalgia

For this first collaboration, Richard Quinn certainly didn’t miss the mark. The London-based designer is a maximalist: he loves bold colours and odd opulence, often coupled with couture shapes that evoke the elegance of the Fifties and Sixties. For Moncler, Quinn introduced his own personal language to printed bodysuits, pumps and padded thigh-high boots.

Valentino’s creative director fuses couture and Africans patterns 

Serving couture padded dresses is womenswear designer of the year Pierpaolo Piccioli, and we’re here for it. Using the functionality of Moncler, the Valentino creative director has married the traditional language of couture with patterns that evoke African textiles. “I am after a balance of dreaminess, extravagance and soulfulness,” Piccioli said of his collection. “Connecting diversities is my idea of inclusive creativity.”

Broderie Anglaise, courtesy of Simone Rocha

“Fabrication and how it is manipulated and developed is a very important part of the design process for me,” said Simone Rocha. The Irish designer presented a clean collection inspired by tenting in her signature Broderie Anglaise, at times reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic cocoon bridal dress. It felt like a surprisingly refreshing interpretation of Moncler’s sportswear identity.

Craig Green explores space and functionality 

Continuing his partnership with the French-Italian brand, Craig Green devised bold volumes that can be folded, flattened and packed. The dialogue between fabric, body and space is evident in the work of the British designer. “Moncler has a strong heritage but still embraces change,” said Green, winner of the menswear designer of the year at the recent Fashion Awards. “They encourage an experimental approach and are not afraid of taking risks, which makes them a great collaborative partner.”