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“I’ve come to care more about who I work with than what I work on,” says Jony Ive, former Apple chief design officer and co-founder of the creative collective Love fromLater this month, she will present her first outerwear collection, in collaboration with Remo Ruffini, chairman and CEO of the multi-billion dollar label Moncler. For the duo, who have known each other for many years, embarking on a project together “just seemed natural,” says Ruffini, whose previous collaborators include Craig Green, By Thom Browne and Japanese musician Hiroshi Fujiwara.
The collection took approximately four years to complete, Inspired by Moncler The new model is made from high-quality recycled nylon and is united by a mutual obsession with detail. It features a three-layer “layer” system (from £1,420) – evolutions of the brand’s classic field jacket, parka and poncho silhouettes – which are joined to a central base layer (£2,180), available in off-white or butter yellow (bindings are also offered in a range of colours). Key innovations lie in the taslanised fabric (a treatment where compressed air adds texture to mattify the yarn) and the introduction of the Duo magnetic button which allows closure with a satisfying click – a sound Ive says he obsessed over during development.
“We didn’t rush the process, we took our time until we were totally satisfied,” says Ruffini. This is typical of Ive’s way of working – The serif typeface developed for LoveFrom’s brand identity took just as long to perfect. This precision has also been reflected in the black and white graphic design of the collection’s packaging, which includes small paper models of the garments illustrating how the shell and core can be joined together.
The two have now formed “a very unique and precious relationship,” Ive says. “Every moment with Jony has been a gift,” Ruffini says. This, they joke, is just the beginning.
The LoveFrom, Moncler collection will be available globally starting September 24th in selected Moncler stores and in moncler.com
Model, Li Chengyuan of Kult. Casting, Tiago Martins of Ben Grimes. Hair, Yumi Nakada-Dingle with Chanel and Davines. Photography assistant, Emilio Garfath. Styling assistants, Hayley Downes and Alvaro Merino de Mendoza. Hair assistant, Erika Kimura. Production, Eightyseven Productions. Special thanks to Shannon Pajot.