It started with high-quality jackets for people working in the French Alps. Today Moncler is a luxury clothing brand not only for winter, but also producing clothing, bags or accessories. It is an outstanding combination of French practicality with an Italian approach to fashion.
Moncler stands for Monestier-de-Clermont, a mountain village near Grenoble in the French Alps. It was here that René Ramillon and Andrè Vincent founded a company in 1952 to produce high-quality down jackets for the needs of workers operating in the harsh climatic conditions here. They were put to the test during numerous expeditions of varying nature.
Jackets for special tasks
French mountaineer Lionel Terray was the first to notice Moncler products and appreciate their potential for mountain expeditions. The result of his involvement was the specialised Moncler pour Lionel Terray range. In 1954 Moncler down jackets were chosen to equip the Italian expedition to K2, which culminated in the conquest of the world's second highest peak by the duo Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli. In 1955 the company equipped the Makalù expedition with clothing.
To celebrate the Grenoble Winter Olympics, Moncler became the official clothing supplier for the French downhill ski team. In the 1980s, under the stylistic direction of designer Chantal Thomass, Moncler entered the city, becoming a wardrobe icon for the younger generation.
Italian entrepreneur Remo Ruffini, the current chairman and CEO of the Moncler Group, took over the brand in 2003 and embarked on its global expansion strategy in the luxury goods segment. Suffice it to say that the company is now listed on the stock exchange. At that time production of various clothing lines began: the Moncler Gamme Rouge, Moncler Gamme Bleu and Haute Couture. In 2010 Moncler Grenoble debuted in New York, reinterpreting the styles of the past to create technical ski wear and après-ski clothing with a modern twist, which you can also find in the Vitkac department store range. The French brand found success with its shiny nylon down jackets, especially in Japan, then Italy and later worldwide.
In 2018 Moncler launched the new Moncler Genius project - One House, Different Voices, a hub of eight minds who, while maintaining their individuality, reinterpret the essence of the Moncler brand. These are the most interesting designers of their time, to whom the brand is giving the field of play. This results in stunning designs. One cannot pass by indifferently, for example, the yellow 'Erminia' evening gown from the Moncler collection created by Pierpaolo Piccioli, artistic director of Valentino, and Liya Kebede, model and designer. Made in Italy from the distinctive quilted structure we know so well from down coats, it has a hood and zips under the arms before falling down to take the form of a ball gown with a train. It is decorated at the bottom with green, white and black stripes inspired by traditional Ethiopian motifs, a nod to Kebede's cultural heritage.
Today the company not only produces top-quality down jackets and coats, but also bags, shoes, apparel, jewellery and even dog accessories, including leashes and clothing. In 2021 the brand's first fragrances, Moncler Pour Femme and Moncler Pour Homme, were presented on shop shelves and online.
Interesting collaborations
Moncler has been collaborating with other brands for the past twenty years, resulting in designs that go beyond its regular range. Together with Fendi it creates quilted bag designs. Several down jacket models for the capsule collection were designed by singer Pharrell Williams. Hiroki Nakamura of the Visvim brand added retro designs to the men's range. Mykita, a German eyewear manufacturer, distributes two pairs of unisex sunglasses called Achille and LinoN. Rimowa, a German luggage manufacturer, co-created a small aluminium suitcase with accessories. And French architects Gilles & Boissier - an armchair. Chitose Abe, designer of Japanese brand Sacai, creates skirts from the same material as down jackets.
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