LAURA KIM & FERNANDO GARCIA

Fernando Garcia first stepped into Laura Kim's office as a newly hired intern. At that time, the Korean fashion designer was a design director working directly under Mr. De la Renta.“My first impression of her? I thought she was sweet,” reminisces Garcia. “It lasted two hours,” he adds with a laugh.

Fast-forward 15 years, and the two designers now lead the creative direction of the brand and run MONSE, the luxury label they co-founded in 2015.Outside of their professional synergy,Kim and Garcia are also best friends.

“Our friends make fun of us all the time because we’re always together, for work and outside of work,” says Garcia. “We lead pretty interesting lives, so the entertainment is non-stop.”

Aside from their passion for designing, Kim and Garcia share a common love for all things creative:Garcia through his appreciation of music and film, and Kim through her fondness for cooking.

“We’re constantly absorbed with new ideas, and it influences us in everything we do in life, not just fashion. Our creativity is endless,” shares Garcia.

Despite their fast-paced lives, the designers also cherish moments of respite and describe themselves as“homebodies at heart.”

“I publicly say that I like to stay home, but I don’t think people believe me because we’re out all the time,” says Kim with a laugh.

“We have very busy schedules, but my idea of a perfect night is to stay home and watch TV,” adds Garcia.

The Langham, Fifth Avenue, New York, has become part of their everyday lives, whether it’s for a cocktail after work, indulging in a staycation, or hosting a dinner party.

“The Langham is very close to our office. It’s like our little living room outside of our home and work,”says Kim. “What I love about it is that you never have to leave because you can see the whole city from here. It became a bit of a second home.”