DALLAS, Apr 9, 2007/ FW/ --- Moncler, known for its high performance down jackets created with high fashion in mind brought the fantasy of haute couture to the reality of ski runs with its Gamme Rouge collection unveiled last February in Milan.

Textured nylon embellished with 3-D crystals, appliqués laid-out like black & white graphics, smocking and ruche complementing embroidery – couture elements raised the bar on ski wear that can actually be worn not just at the après ski but also during the opening night at the opera.

The silhouettes were reminiscent of the 1950s, a seeming return to the roots of Moncler, which was established in 1952. Since its founding, sportsmen and women have appreciated Moncler’s dedication to quality and attention to details, making the ski jacket functional and modish at the same time.

Capturing the attention of the sporting world in 1968 during the Grenoble Olympics when Moncler sponsored the official uniform of the French team, it was not until the 1980s when the fashion set noticed it. Moncler jackets became the uniform of the “paninari” (80’s Italian fashion craze), which was one of the most important fashion trends in Italy.

Still, it stayed in sportswear stores for another decade, i.e., until 1998 when Moncler finally shed its ‘sportswear’ label and entered the world of high fashion, debuting on the Milan catwalk in 1999 for its first Spring / Summer collection for 2000 under the artistic direction of Remo Ruffini.

Building on that momentum, Moncler’s popularity soared, and last February, with its Gamme Collection for Fall 2007 presented at the Sala delle Cariatidi at Milan’s Palazzo Reale, Ruffini reworked and represented a fantasy universe.

Models wearing masks designed like the falcon head, the setting a mid-winter’s landscape of snow and bare trees in a dreamy vision worthy of a Hollywood set, Moncler’s permanent place in high fashion had been set in stone.

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Moncler

Moncler

Moncler