Laura Kim & Fernando Garcia

Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia are the former co-creative directors of Oscar de la Renta and the founders of the independent luxury label Monse. After nearly a decade revitalising Oscar de la Renta, the duo announced in September 2025 that they would step down to focus exclusively on their own brand. They will present their final collection for the maison in February 2026, but will remain shareholders and transition to the company’s board of directors.

Garcia studied architecture at the University of Notre Dame before moving to New York to intern at Oscar de la Renta, where he rose to senior designer. Kim, a Pratt graduate, joined the house in 2003 and eventually served as design director. In May 2015, the duo departed to launch Monse, a brand defined by deconstructed tailoring and masculine-feminine interplay. Following its Spring/Summer 2016 debut, Monse achieved rapid commercial and editorial success, backed by high-profile supporters such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Margot Robbie.

In September 2016, following a brief stint at Carolina Herrera, Kim and Garcia were appointed co-creative directors of Oscar de la Renta, succeeding Peter Copping. Their tenure was marked by a strategic modernisation of the house’s codes; for their Autumn/Winter 2017 debut, they famously showed the legacy brand and Monse collections back-to-back in a single runway presentation.

In December 2025, they celebrated the house's 60th anniversary with a landmark Pre-Fall 2026 show in Santo Domingo, paying tribute to the Dominican roots of the late founder. Their final work for the maison, the Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, debuted in February 2026 to critical acclaim.

Parallel to their work at Oscar de la Renta, the duo has scaled Monse into a formidable global brand. In July 2024, they expanded its reach through a strategic partnership with Shein, focusing on mentoring independent designers. Monse celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025, continuing to show at New York Fashion Week with an aesthetic that balances luxury utility with experimental silhouettes.

Kim and Garcia have been nominated for multiple CFDA awards, and ss they transition into their board roles at Oscar de la Renta, they remain two of the most influential figures in American luxury.