LAD/ Powered By Art Comes First
LAD/
Building an International Fashion House
From brand identity and collection development to international production, press positioning and an official Paris Fashion Week® debut.
Photographers:
Niklas Nyman
Derek Boateng
APM
Overview
Building an International Luxury Fashion Brand from the Ground Up.
Art Comes First was appointed as Creative Director and strategic creative consultancy for LAD/, leading the development of the brand from concept to international presentation.
Working close partnership with founder Ladislas Mande, ACF directed every stage of the creative process, including brand strategy, identity, product development, creative direction, communications, production, runway presentations and international market positioning.
The result was the successful launch of LAD/ onto the official Paris Fashion Week calendar and its positioning as one of the emerging voices in contemporary luxury menswear.
CLIENT
LAD/
STATUS
Creative Direction & Consultancy
DURATION
2025–Present
INDUSTRY
Luxury Menswear
LOCATION
Paris · Texas · New York
SERVICES
Brand Strategy · Creative Direction · Collection Design · Product Development · Production · Campaign Direction · Styling · Communication · Wholesale Strategy · Market Positioning · Runway Presentation
The Opportunity
LAD/ began with a strong cultural point of view and an ambition to build a distinctive menswear brand with international relevance.
The opportunity was to create the complete fashion structure needed to transform that vision into a long-term business.
This required more than the design of individual garments. It involved defining the brand’s identity, establishing its creative DNA, developing commercially viable collections, building an international production network, creating campaign and communication assets, and positioning the brand within the global fashion industry.
ACF’s role was to help develop LAD/ as a credible fashion house rather than a short-term clothing project.
Scope of Engagement
Art Comes First was engaged as LAD/'s long-term creative and strategic partner.
Our work spans every stage of the brand's development.
Brand Strategy
Creating the foundations of
the brand.
✓ Brand positioning
✓ Brand narrative
✓ Creative DNA
✓ Visual identity
✓ Long-term direction
Creative Direction
Translating strategy into fashion.
✓ Collection concepts
✓ Styling
✓ Campaign direction
✓ Lookbooks
✓ Seasonal narratives
✓ Visual storytelling
Product Development
Taking ideas into production.
✓ Collection design
✓ Fabric sourcing
✓ Sample development
✓ Production management
✓ Italy
✓ Japan
Communications
Building international visibility.
✓ Campaign assets
✓ Editorial outreach
✓ Press materials
✓ WWD
✓ BBC
Market Development
Positioning the brand globally.
✓ Paris Fashion Week®
✓ Buyer introductions
✓ Wholesale strategy
✓ Retail development
✓ International expansion
Our Approach
Define
Establish the brand identity, positioning and long-term vision.
↓
Design
Develop collections, products and visual language.
↓
Develop
Source materials, create samples and manage production.
↓
Present
Launch through campaigns, Paris Fashion Week and international media.
↓
Grow
Expand retail, wholesale and global opportunities.
Selected Highlights
Brand Identity
Defined the creative DNA and visual language of LAD/, 2025.
Paris Fashion Week®
Delivered LAD/'s official debut on the Paris Fashion Week Menswear calendar, 2026.
Campaign
Directed campaign imagery, lookbooks and storytelling.
International Recognition
Featured by BBC and international fashion media.
Product Development
Developed multiple collections through production in Italy and Japan.
Market Positioning
Building the commercial foundations for long-term international growth.
Creative Challenge
LAD/ was conceived as more than a fashion label, it was intended to become a multidisciplinary cultural platform. The challenge was to build a contemporary luxury brand from the ground up while balancing commercial viability with a strong cultural narrative rooted in craftsmanship, identity and storytelling.
Every aspect of the business, from brand positioning and product development to production, communications and presentation, needed to be developed as one coherent ecosystem rather than as independent creative outputs.
Official Paris Fashion Week®
In June 2026, LAD/ presented its Spring/Summer 2027 collection on the official Paris Fashion Week® Menswear calendar.
Art Comes First led the creative and strategic development of the presentation, overseeing collection development, styling, campaign direction, production coordination and communications.
The presentation introduced LAD/ to international buyers, editors and industry leaders, establishing the brand within the global luxury fashion landscape.
OFFICIAL CALENDAR
Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM)
Paris Fashion Week® Menswear
Spring/Summer 2027
International Recognition
Recognition from the international fashion industry.
WWD - One of the Ones to Watch
Ahead of the official Paris Fashion Week® Menswear season, WWD identified LAD/ as one of the most notable emerging brands to watch, recognising its creative direction, international debut and partnership with Art Comes First.
BBC
Behind the Paris Fashion Week Presentation
BBC documented LAD/'s Paris Fashion Week presentation, following the creative process and the brand's international launch.
Forbes
Building the Future of Contemporary Luxury
Forbes explored the vision behind LAD/, highlighting how Art Comes First partnered with founder Ladislas Mande to build a contemporary luxury fashion house rooted in cultural hybridity, craftsmanship and international ambition.
Looking Ahead
The partnership between Art Comes First and LAD/ continues to evolve.
With the foundations of the brand established, the next phase focuses on expanding collections, strengthening international distribution, developing new product categories and growing LAD/'s presence across global markets.
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