Wearable Habitats By Craig Green For The Moncler Genius Project

Courtesy of Moncler

Craig Green is known for his innovative and architectural approach to fashion; his collaboration with Moncler Genius sees him explore wearable habitats. Inspired by structures such as tents, kites and weathervanes, the function behind the collection is to create functional and protective garments. There is a connection between Craig Green’s Wearable Habitats collection with Moncler Genius and social artist Lucy Orta’s Refuge Wear.

Moncler Genius and Craig Green

Courtesy of Moncler

The collaboration between Moncler Genius and Craig Green is a remarkable fusion of art, functionality, and innovation, pushing the boundaries of outerwear design. Green brought his unique vision, which encompasses his architectural fashion sense, to Moncler's Genius project, creating collections that are both visually striking and deeply functional.

Both of Craig Green’s collections with Moncler Genius often draw inspiration from nature's contrasts, such as the interplay between water and land or structure and freeform. This is reflected in the use of materials, colours, and shapes that balance utility with artistic expression. For example, lightweight nylons are paired with bold, primary colours and used to create garments that are both visually striking and practical.

Courtesy of Moncler

The Moncler Project with Craig Green explores multiple themes. The idea of wearable habitats explores clothing as a form of shelter. While the theme of protection and performance looked to nature for inspiration, the need to shield oneself from the elements, such as the sun, the rain or, in dire situations, a sandstorm, brought about the idea of crafting the garments using lightweight materials accompanied with oversized hoodies. Visual pragmatism is emphasised in the architectural volume of the artistic garments, featuring stiff hoods and clothing that emulates the structures of tents. The innovative fabrics used spotlight the ways in which technological and experimental garment-making features heavily in Green’s design style, which allows him to showcase his and Moncler’s team technical expertise.

Courtesy of Moncler

Green’s collaboration with Moncler Genius was fuelled by his longstanding fascination with protection and functionality in fashion. He’s always explored how garments can serve as more than mere clothing, acting instead as “wearable habitats” that shield and support the body. In his vision, everyday objects like tents, kites, and even weathervanes become metaphors for protection, redefining outerwear in a lighter, summer-appropriate context rather than the traditional, bulky winter style

The collection highlights Moncler's heritage of performance-based design, pushing the boundaries of outerwear with innovative forms and technical expertise. The collaboration is a celebration of human interaction with the outdoors, blending utilitarian design with a deep appreciation for the natural world.

Courtesy of Moncler

Lucy Orta Refuge Wear and Body Architecture

Courtesy: Lucy + Jorge Orta

Courtesy: Lucy + Jorge Orta

Lucy Orta is a British visual artist whose notable works include Refuge Wear and Body Architecture. These projects explore wearable art that addresses themes of mobility, protection, and human survival. These works blend fashion, sculpture, and social commentary, creating portable and autonomous habitats that reflect on issues like homelessness, displacement, and environmental challenges.

Her groundbreaking project, Refuge Wear, consists of modular shelters that can transform into clothing or transport bags. These designs provide safe, mobile refuge for individuals in distress or challenging environments. Lucy Orta collaborated with marginalised communities, such as homeless individuals and nomadic populations, to develop prototypes that offer comfort and protection in extreme conditions. The project aims to address critical needs, such as temporary shelter during natural disasters or providing shelter for displaced populations, while also raising awareness about social and environmental issues.

Courtesy: Lucy + Jorge Orta

Courtesy: Lucy + Jorge Orta

In 1992 Lucy Orta began working on Body Architecture, which expands on the concept of wearable habitats. The collection creates structures that explore the connection between the individual and the environment. Lucy Orta shifted her research focus from the microcosm of the individual to the macrocosm of the community. The Body Architecture collection often incorporates elements of collective identity and modular design, emphasising the interconnectedness of people and communities. The pieces are both functional and symbolic, serving as a commentary on human vulnerability and resilience.

Courtesy: Lucy + Jorge Orta

Her projects have had profound impacts on communities, particularly those facing social and environmental challenges. Her work has empowered marginalised groups, such as homeless individuals, asylum seekers, and care hostel residents, by involving them in the creative process and addressing their needs through innovative design. Through her socially engaged methodologies, Lucy Orta has fostered a sense of collective identity and cohabitation, encouraging communities to reflect on their interconnectedness.

Courtesy of Moncler

Although Green was not directly inspired by social artist Lucy Orta’s Refuge Wear and Body Architecture collections, one cannot help but notice the similarities in design, material and purpose of the garments created. Both designers share thematic similarities in their work. Such as exploring the relationship between humans and their environment, as well as creating wearable, functional art. Green's work often emphasises the idea of garments as "wearable habitats", drawing from structures like tents and kites, which could align conceptually with Orta's exploration of clothing as shelter. While there may be parallels, Green's inspirations for Moncler Genius are more broadly rooted in nature, functionality, and human interaction with the outdoors.