Moncler Grenoble: Designer Sandro Mandrino on its November 1 drop

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Oct 31, 2018

Moncler has been garnering immense attention for its pathbreaking House of Genius collaboration with a series of high profile designers like Pierpaolo Piccioli, Craig Green and Simone Rocha. Debuting each of them at monthly intervals with drops into selective stores within its worldwide retail chain.

However, in many ways the brand’s most influential element is Moncler Grenoble, whose latest collection debuts on November 1, All Souls Day, the official beginning of ski season.
 
We caught up with Sandro Mandrino, the Italian designer who has guided Moncler Grenoble for nearly seven years as a head of design, ever since its launch in 2010 in New York.

 
For his latest collection, Mandrino has melded hints of Sixties flower power; Scandinavian motifs; authentic mountain gear; tracksuit references and dashes of naval gear. We wanted to hear from the man himself what distinguishes Grenoble and Genius and from where he gets the inspiration.
 
FashionNetwork.com: What were your inspirations this season?
Sandro Mandrino: As you may have seen from the February event, the concept of the exhibition was all about kaleidoscopes and the kaleidoscopic effect. My inspiration primarily came from movement, colors, evolution and an ever-changing view… 

FNW: What performance elements did you concentrate on in this collection?
SM: Moncler Grenoble represents the purely sporting vocation inspired by the origins of the brand in the homonymous capital of the Isère region. Performance, technicality, comfort and lightness are the key elements.

 
FNW: How do you differentiate Grenoble from Genius; making sure there is a clear difference between his approach and the other designers?
SM: Moncler Grenoble is the collection with the deeper roots in the brand heritage as it’s the most technical one. The collection was firstly launched in 2010, in New York with incredible shows as proper brand statements always linked to the perfect balance between performance and style. With the launch of Moncler Genius project in February 2018 in Milan, Moncler Grenoble is an integral part of the eight collections, designed by different creatives, that Moncler has presented in its Moncler Genius Building. As a designer, I have a technical background and it is really natural to me to mesh it up with the Moncler DNA. Moncler has a very strong high-end sport attitude heritage.
 
FNW: How do Grenoble drops differ from Genius?
SM: Moncler Grenoble drops will follow the Moncler Genius drops calendar, as all the other Genius collections. Of course, as it is a skiwear collection it will be launched in ski season starting from November 1.
 
FNW: In how many sales point will Grenoble drop?
SM: It will be in all the Moncler boutiques worldwide and also in selected department stores. Moncler Grenoble will also have a dedicated temporary store opening on November 3 in London.

 
FNW: What do you enjoy most about designing Grenoble?
SM: It was really exciting to express my creativity showing more than 70 models, men and women, combining my artistic expression with the Moncler DNA and also to be part of what I think is an amazing forward-looking project: Moncler Genius.
 
FNW: What is your definition of the Moncler Grenoble's DNA?  
SM: Technicality, quality, performance, heritage and style.
 
FNW: Your whole design process. What is in your mind the first day you begin a new collection?
SM: I cannot define a starting day…the new collection begins from the last one, it is an ongoing process that takes shape even from daily experiences - an art exhibition; travels; books; and also testing ski wear by myself on the slopes.