Fashion People The Oscar Finale
Feb 13, 2026
Fernando Garcia, fashion designer and Monse co-founder known for red-carpet collaborations. Laura Kim, Monse co-founder and former Oscar de la Renta creative director who revitalized the house. They talk juggling two collections during brutal February Fashion Week. They reflect on building Monse alongside a legacy brand. They discuss social media, celebrity moments, multi-generational customers, and why they chose to focus on Monse.
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February Is The Toughest Fashion Season
- February (fall) NYFW is the hardest season because of holiday/logistics compression and weather delays. Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia emphasize scheduling and supply-chain pain points unique to that timing.
A Final Lunch Before Oscar's Passing
- Oscar de la Renta passed while Laura and Fernando were abroad and they'd had a final lunch with him beforehand. That moment made their subsequent appointment and responsibilities at the house emotionally intense.
Modernize Gradually While Preserving DNA
- At Oscar de la Renta they balanced preserving DNA with gradually attracting younger clients without alarming legacy customers. They also significantly improved quality via better sourcing and labor investments over time.