Moncler, founded in 1952 by René Ramillon, takes its name from the French Alpine town of Monestier-de-Clermont. Equipping customers for extreme weather, the brand cut its teeth producing quilted sleeping bags and tents, as well as the quilted jackets originally intended to keep workers warm on the slopes. Counting the French national downhill skiing team as patrons, Moncler was bought in 2003 by Italian entrepreneur Remo Ruffini, who re-introduced the Moncler quilted jacket as a marker of superior style on and off the slopes. Gaining cult status for its lightweight down women’s and men’s coats, Moncler’s pieces are designed to keep you warm and dry without unnecessary detail. Alongside its main line, the collaborative Genius Project eschews bi-annual runway shows in favour of creative capsules with a contemporary undercurrent.