Moncler x Willow Smith

Since the launch of Moncler Genius in 2018, the Italian-based fashion house has been disrupting the currents of the global fashion industry with its initiative for a co-creation platform, in which collections are released with the help of guest designers and contributors. This year, Moncler Genius selected Shanghai, a global epicenter for innovation, to house its latest immersive endeavor: The City of Genius. A metropolis of multi-sensory experiences and exhibits that posed the question, “How do you live genius?”. The brand makes it known that we are all born geniuses, and that uncreative behavior is learned and developed over time. Taking place on October 19th, the event closed out Shanghai Fashion Week in a major way, situated at a sprawling 30,000-square-meter shipyard along the Huangpu River. The site was transformed into a micro-metropolis of cutting-edge pavilions, each one a distinct universe reflecting the creative vision of one of Moncler Genius’ collaborators. Of the 10 collections, guest designers included: Rick Owens, Jil Sander, A$AP Rocky, and Willow Smith.

Exploring the avant-garde installations on behalf of LuisaViaRoma was Vanessa Hong, a New York City based fashion influencer. As a global style icon, Vanessa is uniquely suited to interpret The City of Genius. With an approach to dressing that often blends sportswear with contemporary high-fashion pieces, Vanessa’s aesthetic is in perfect harmony with the Moncler x Willow Smith collaboration making her the ideal ambassador to touch, see, and even wear the collection ahead of its release. Housed in a space titled, “Where we wake up to a new beginning,” Vanessa encountered the collection in a post-apocalyptic garden in which humans and nature are in perfect sync, describing the activation and clothing as, “futuristic – functional – sleek” with a strong attention to comfort.

Singing and acting since age 7, Willow Smith is an example of a creator who has maintained a freewheeling creativity far beyond childhood. She embodies the Genius lifestyle today as she continues to cut a path for herself as a trendsetter in fashion and entertainment. For her Moncler Genius collection, Smith drew inspiration from nature and 1990s sci-fi films, envisioning a “feminine and fluid universe” expressed through sleek, state-of-the-art silhouettes and a color palette of black and ‘warm moon dust’ – a creamy, celestial hue of white.

Versatility, a quality tied to the minimalism beloved by Willow Smith, is paramount, with almost all garments designed to be compatible with one another enabling total looks, layered outfits, and mix-and-match ensembles. Respecting Moncler’s codes of design, the pieces focus on functionality and promise to help brave the elements of their environment without sacrificing style. Shoppers will be able to replicate elevated punk chic outfits of heightened multifunctionality complete with detachable elements and reversibility. Inspired by her love of nature, an engraved ‘W.S.’ metal ring is used recurringly throughout the collection as a unifying element symbolizing an imaginary time portal or collective organic life cycles and recalling Willow’s signature piercings. You’ll find it closely linked to the Moncler iconography, and exclusive subverted logo, on virtually every piece in the collection. Material choices focus on new dimensions and motifs in quilted fabrics, sophisticated leather, tactile fleece, and iconic nylon with a supple, cotton feel. Puffers – a mainstay of the brand – and quilted jackets boast their ability to transform and stand out with metallic zippers. A reimagined bomber silhouette acts as an archetype, and the collection re-interprets the iconic silhouette in many ways. The most classic is with a down-filled lambskin bomber, and for fans of a cropped fit, the technical satin jacket, made from recycled nylon twill, filled with down, and completed with a detachable hood, will be an instant wardrobe staple. Other must-have pieces include a wool beanie that complements any outerwear look, the innovative, lug sole Salix boot, and adjustable-length cotton canvas pants.

“Moncler Genius, to me, has always been such an iconic [part of the Moncler] brand because of the way it melds boundary-pushing creativity with technology and heritage.”

The collaboration with Willow Smith resonates deeply with the Moncler community, and Vanessa shares her excitement: “I was so thrilled to see Willow Smith as a collaborator—her style, her aesthetic, and her music have always inspired me.”