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
LAD/ partnered with Art Comes First to transform a clear cultural vision into an internationally positioned menswear house.
Working alongside founder Ladislas Mande, ACF has helped shape the brand’s identity, creative DNA, collections, production network, campaigns and global positioning—culminating in LAD/’s official debut on the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode’s Paris Fashion Week® Menswear Spring/Summer 2027 calendar.
CLIENT
LAD/
PARTNERSHIP
2025–Present
INDUSTRY
Luxury Menswear
LOCATION
Paris · London · Italy · Japan · Abidjan · New York
SERVICES
Brand Strategy · Fashion Creative Direction · Collection Design · Product Development · Production Management · Campaign Direction · Styling · Press Positioning · Market Development
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.
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
Paris Fashion Week® Menswear
Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode
Spring/Summer 2027
Industry Recognition
Recognition from the international fashion industry.
WWD - One of the Ones to Watch
Ahead of Paris Men's Fashion Week Spring 2027, WWD identified LAD/ as one of the most notable emerging labels to watch, highlighting the brand's official debut and its creative development with Sam Lambert and Shaka Maidoh from Art Comes First.
International Media
Following the official Paris Fashion Week presentation, LAD/ was featured by BBC, introducing the collection and story to a broader global audience.
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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