For the new Moncler Grenoble collection, we interviewed Gus Kenworthy Between technical layering, the Arizona desert and a return to the Olympics, the freestyle champion shares a vision of the outdoors that goes beyond the mountains
When you think of Moncler Grenoble, snow, ski slopes and high altitude immediately come to mind. For its newest SS26 campaign, however, the brand has chosen to relocate entirely, amid the arid landscapes of Tucson Mountain Park in Arizona. Red rocks, cacti, sandy expanses and desert sunsets provide the backdrop for a collection that continues to speak of the outdoors but through a different visual language — warmer, dustier and rooted in the spirit of travel.
The campaign brings together Gus Kenworthy, Richard Permin and Mia Regan, photographed as they traverse the desert from dawn to dusk, sharing hikes, rest stops and moments around a campfire. The collection follows the same direction. The pieces are built to accompany long days spent outdoors, with lightweight layering, modular jackets and technical fabrics designed to adapt easily to changing temperatures. Carabiners, braided zip pulls, reflective inserts and YKK AquaGuard NATULON zips sit alongside a natural palette of cream, sand, moss and sky blue tones, complemented by botanical prints featuring cacti, yucca and agave. Some pieces also incorporate technologies developed with partners such as GORE-TEX and RECCO, preserving the technical approach that has always defined Moncler Grenoble.
Speaking about the campaign, Kenworthy told us how familiar the Arizona set actually felt to him. «I grew up in the southwest of Colorado, not too far from Arizona», he explained. For him, working on a Moncler campaign far from the snowy mountains was «a nice change of pace», while still holding on to the same idea of outdoor adventure. The way he describes the collection also reflects the kind of approach Moncler Grenoble is building today. «Comfortable, stylish and functional», he told us — three simple words that nonetheless perfectly capture the direction of the project. The looks retain a strong technical component while also working effortlessly in everyday life, without feeling exclusively designed for athletic performance.
Meanwhile, Kenworthy has also returned to competition ahead of the Milano-Cortina Olympics after years away from racing. A decision that, as he told us, required a significant personal investment. «I hadn't skied seriously in over three years», he explained, «getting back up to speed with tricks and combinations was a huge challenge». His relationship with fashion, on the other hand, follows a fairly spontaneous line: «I don't think I'm a particularly bold dresser», he said, «but when you wear something you really love, like Moncler, it completely changes the way you approach the day». An idea that also sits very close to the aesthetic of the new Moncler Grenoble collection, where performance, comfort and style coexist in perfect symbiosis.