As cold weather season approaches, are you ready to brave the brisk temperatures in style in a Moncler jacket?
You may have seen the look in Vogue, or maybe spotted Moncler puffy coats on some of your favorite celebrities, like Justin Timberlake or Elizabeth Hurley.
Here are 6 important things to know about the celebrated outerwear brand:
1. What’s in a Name?
The name “Moncler” comes from the brand’s origins. It is an abbreviation of Monestier-de-Clermont, which is the mountain village near Grenoble where the brand got its start.
Founded in 1952, Moncler was started by two entrepreneurs with a passion for the mountain lifestyle and its extreme cold, René Ramillon and Andrè Vincent.
2. Sleeping Bags & Overalls
When Moncler first got its start, the brand’s initial products were a quilted sleeping bag, tents, and a single line of hooded capes. Ideal for mountain adventures, these rugged items quickly became a hit as vacation getaways to the mountains became more popular.
The now-iconic puffy jackets were inspired by workers in a small mountain factory who needed protective covering for their overalls. The French mountaineer Lionel Terray was the first to see their potential – and thus the “Moncler pour Lionel Terray” collection was born.
3. Mountain Expeditions 
In the 1950s during the early days of the brand, Moncler down jackets were the chosen wardrobe for several important mountain expeditions.
In 1954, Italian mountaineers Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli wore Moncler in their expedition of Mount Karakorum. They ultimately were the first to reach the top of Mount Godwin-Austen, also known as K2, the second-highest mountain in the world.
In 1955, Moncler coats were supplied to a French expedition that conquered Mount Makalù, the fifth highest mountain in the world, located just 12 miles southeast of Mount Everest.
4. The 1968 Winter Olympics
In 1968, the Winter Olympics came to Grenoble, and Moncler became the official sponsor and supplier of the French ski team. This event brought worldwide recognition to the brand, especially as television stations around the globe broadcast the games.
At this time, Moncler also developed its now renowned logo, the cockerel (or rooster) which replaced an image of Mount Eguit.
5. Paris in the ’80s
The 1980s were a glamourous time for Moncler, as the brand finally had its first grand debut in Paris.
Highly creative Parisian designer “c” worked with the brand, replacing zippers with buttons and adding fur, satin, and reversible fabrics to inject a new sense of couture style and take Moncler to the next level of fashion.
6. High-Performance – For All Eras
In the 21st century, Moncler continues to push the envelope and create cutting-edge, high-performance outerwear that is designed to withstand the world’s most extreme weather.
In 2014, as part of the 60th anniversary of Compagnoni and Lacedelli’s legendary K2 climb, Moncler supplied the equipment to the team that undertook to re-do the expedition in celebration.
The following year, Moncler partnered with Michele Pontrandolfo for “Antarctica 2015,” the world’s firsts solo expedition of the South Pole.
Do you wear Moncler? If so, tell us why you’re a fan!
And for a limited time only, check out our SALE on Women’s Moncler!