Inside the prolific rise of Oscar de la Renta’s Laura Kim: the Korea-born Slaysian interned at Donna Karan before heading ODLR and co-founding Monse – a brand loved by Sarah Jessica Parker

Feb 15 , 2023

Laura Kim is the co-founder of Monse and a co-creative director of Oscar de la Renta. Photo:
@tokibunbun/Instagram — Laura Kim is the co-founder of Monse and a co-creative director of Oscar de la Renta. Photo: @tokibunbun/Instagram

Kim has become one of New York’s biggest names in fashion and in vocal Asian representation with her proud Slaysians gang that includes Prabal Gurung, Tina Leung, Phillip Lim and Ezra J. William

She studied at Pratt Institute and interned at Jeremy Scott and Tse Cashmere – then Oscar de la Renta, where she later became co-creative director with Monse co-founder Fernando Garcia

For almost two decades, fashion designer Laura Kim has carved her name in elite circles as one of the most creative and forward-thinking innovators in the industry. According to Coveteur, she began sewing when she was just three years old, and that passion led her to eventually become the co-creative director at fashion giant, Oscar de la Renta.

Laura Kim found her passion for fashion when she was just three years old. Photo: @tokibunbun/Instagram

Although she’s been a fixture in the fashion industry for years, it was during the Covid-19 pandemic that Kim’s cult following exploded. This time was also when her friendship with a group of Asians in fashion circles known as the Slaysians became solidified.

Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Tina Leung, Phillip Lim and Ezra J. William have called themselves the “Slaysians”. Photo: @tokibunbun/Instagram

The Slaysians, the original group at least, include designer Prabal Gurung, influencer Tina Leung, designer Phillip Lim and socialite Ezra J. William. As a group, they have spoken out about their experiences as Asians in a white-dominated industry and the racial bias they have had to face over the years.

Kim’s meteoric rise to fashion stardom is the stuff fairy tales are made of. Here is her story, hardships and all.

The seeds Laura Kim’s sewing genius

Laura Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: @tokibunbun/Instagram

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim started experimenting with sewing when she was only a toddler, per Coveteur. Masterclass reports that it was in Seoul where she learned the basics of pattern-making, sketching and sewing. She used to visit textile markets with her grandmother who was in the industry, and was invested in the basics of fashion design from an early age, per the same source.

Laura Kim at the St Regis Hotel in Atlanta wearing Oscar de la Renta in November 2022. Photo: @tokibunbun/Instagram

In an interview with Coveteur, she said she was inspired by the people of Seoul, which she describes as a fashionable community filled with on-trend streetwear. She added that, during that period of her life, she was regularly surrounded by designer backpacks and personalised touches on garments.