Imagine stepping into a world where discarded pearls become high fashion, old pens transform into couture dresses, and sustainability meets avant-garde design. That’s exactly what awaits visitors at the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC) in Lausanne. The exhibition «Les Monstrueuses» is not just a showcase — it’s a rebellion against the norms of the fashion industry by the visionary Swiss designer Kévin Germanier.
Imagine stepping into a world where discarded pearls become high fashion, old pens transform into couture dresses, and sustainability meets avant-garde design. That’s exactly what awaits visitors at the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC) in Lausanne. The exhibition «Les Monstrueuses» is not just a showcase — it’s a rebellion against the norms of the fashion industry by the visionary Swiss designer Kévin Germanier.
This is MUDAC’s first carte blanche, giving a fashion designer unlimited freedom to redefine luxury, challenge conventions, and prove that beauty and responsibility can go hand in hand. Germanier’s work, embodying a collision of colour, craftsmanship, and conscience, serves as a reminder that fashion can be both an art form and a force for change.
The title «Les Monstrueuses» is more than provocative — it’s symbolic. In Swiss slang, «monster» means something exceptional, awe-inspiring. In his embrace of this duality, Germanier recasts the «monstrous» as something neither ugly nor frightening, but instead extraordinary, individual, and teeming with potential.
This is MUDAC’s first carte blanche, giving a fashion designer unlimited freedom to redefine luxury, challenge conventions, and prove that beauty and responsibility can go hand in hand. Germanier’s work, embodying a collision of colour, craftsmanship, and conscience, serves as a reminder that fashion can be both an art form and a force for change.
The title «Les Monstrueuses» is more than provocative — it’s symbolic. In Swiss slang, «monster» means something exceptional, awe-inspiring. In his embrace of this duality, Germanier recasts the «monstrous» as something neither ugly nor frightening, but instead extraordinary, individual, and teeming with potential.
At the heart of «Les Monstrueuses» lies a simple yet powerful idea: waste can be wearable. Kévin Germanier transforms overconsumption, the fashion industry’s biggest flaw, into its greatest strength. His signature style blends vibrant colours that catch the eye, futuristic shapes that defy gravity, and recycled materials that tell a story of transformation.
One of the exhibition’s centrepieces is a dress made from discarded pens and pencils supplied by Caran d’Ache. Each bead and each ring on the garment is a meticulously sanded and shaped writing instrument — a testament to the power of upcycling. His work conveys that luxury doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Beyond recycling materials, Germanier engages in a creative reimagining of heritage. Drawing inspiration from his Valais roots, he collaborates with local knitters to infuse modern designs with traditional techniques.
One of the exhibition’s centrepieces is a dress made from discarded pens and pencils supplied by Caran d’Ache. Each bead and each ring on the garment is a meticulously sanded and shaped writing instrument — a testament to the power of upcycling. His work conveys that luxury doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Beyond recycling materials, Germanier engages in a creative reimagining of heritage. Drawing inspiration from his Valais roots, he collaborates with local knitters to infuse modern designs with traditional techniques.
The essence of «Les Monstrueuses» lies not in clothing alone, but in the community it cultivates. Several collaborations featured in the exhibition support textile-based reintegration programs, giving individuals a chance to rebuild their lives through craft.
The exhibition also challenges the myth of «fast fashion» by highlighting the value of slow, thoughtful production. Telling a story of human effort, skill, and care, each piece offers a compelling counterpoint to mass‑produced garments.
The exhibition also challenges the myth of «fast fashion» by highlighting the value of slow, thoughtful production. Telling a story of human effort, skill, and care, each piece offers a compelling counterpoint to mass‑produced garments.
Within the exhibition, the «textile chimera» commands attention: a monumental manifestation of Germanier’s mission to merge transformation with sustainability. Crafted from surplus pearls, discarded sequins, recycled fibres, unsold textiles, and collected fragments, the piece redefines material value through tactile experience. It is not meant to be merely seen. Instead, it invites hands to move, eyes to linger, minds to wonder: what potential lies within what we cast aside? Through interaction, visitors discover how fragments of the past can be shaped into something both beautiful and meaningful.
Through collaborations with global events like the Montreux Jazz Festival, Germanier elevates Switzerland’s profile in the international fashion landscape. His work is a declaration: Swiss creativity is bold and unafraid to challenge the status quo.
«Les Monstrueuses» is a call to a new generation of designers to embrace experimentation, respect craftsmanship, and see fashion not just as clothing, but as a platform for change. It’s an invitation to celebrate imperfections, redefine beauty, and see the world through a lens of endless possibility. Come to MUDAC and prepare to be transformed.
Through collaborations with global events like the Montreux Jazz Festival, Germanier elevates Switzerland’s profile in the international fashion landscape. His work is a declaration: Swiss creativity is bold and unafraid to challenge the status quo.
«Les Monstrueuses» is a call to a new generation of designers to embrace experimentation, respect craftsmanship, and see fashion not just as clothing, but as a platform for change. It’s an invitation to celebrate imperfections, redefine beauty, and see the world through a lens of endless possibility. Come to MUDAC and prepare to be transformed.
Dates: 7 November 2025 — 22 March 2026
Location: The Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC) in Lausanne, Place de la Gare 17
Location: The Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC) in Lausanne, Place de la Gare 17
Contributor: Maria Efimova
Cover photo: Alexandre Haefeli