pierpaolo piccioli debuts graphic puffa gowns for moncler genius

moncler taps maison valentino’s creative director pierpaolo piccioli for a second time, in the latest instalment of its multi-brand collaborative genius project. moncler took over an entire milan street to showcase the third chapter, which saw piccioli present a collection of nylon laqué gowns in collaboration with ethiopian model and designer liya kebede. inviting designers to create capsule collections inspired by the iconic moncler down jacket, the project presents new collections that will drop every month for the next 12.

images courtesy of moncler

piccioli continues the couture interpretation of the moncler brand that we saw in his first presentation. last year the designer debuted hooded capes cinched in at the bodice, and captured in images referencing renaissance paintings. this time around, pierpaolo invited his friend liya kebede to input the vibrant patterns and aesthetic of her sustainable and socially responsible ethiopian label ‘lemlem’. pierpaolo piccioli fuses the language of couture with patterns that recall african textiles, using the functionality of moncler as the melting agent, and nylon laqué as the medium of choice. bold silhouettes swarming in rhythmic intarsia ensue.

‘I am after a balance of dreaminess, extravagance and soulfulness‘, says piccioli. ‘I involved liya kebede, who is an active supporter of african artisans with her label lemlem, in the process, creating something true to her, to moncler and to my own sensibility. connecting diversities is my idea of inclusive creativity‘.

‘there is no better way to show how time-honored traditions, like our lemlem artisans’ work, have a place in modern fashion than this partnership, working with pierpaolo and moncler’, kebede comments. ‘I was honored to be a part of this creative process, bringing together heritages that at first glimpse seemed so different but when unexpectedly combined, create something so rich and new, redefining beauty and reminding us that there are no borders in life.’

the other designers and brands part of moncler genius include british designer and central saint martins graduate, craig green, fragment hiroshi hujiwara, palm angels, poldo dog couture, valextra, sandro mandrino for moncler grenoble, sergio zambon for moncler 1952 men’s and veronica leoni for moncler 1952 women’s. the collections will be sold via monthly drops, with the first collaboration hitting moncler stores in june.