Leah Dou is all set to enter Moncler’s City of Genius

Shanghai, Moncler is coming for you. After huge events which landed in Milan and London in recent years, the Italian outerwear behemoth is heading East to China, to unveil its City of Genius: a sprawling megalopolis that puts the next generation of collaborative creatives and the collections they’ve dreamt up on show to the world. 

Joining past names like Craig Green, Simone Rocha, and Pierpaolo Piccioli for this new round of Geniuses are musicians A$AP Rocky, Willow Smith, and Donald Glover, streetwear forefather Nigo, artist LuLu Li, and global clothing behemoth Palm Angels. 

They join long-standing collaborators Hiroshi Fujiwara of FRGMT and Mercedes-Benz, as well as Rick Owens, who, like the humble king he is, doesn’t consider himself a Genius, but still likes to team up with Moncler every now and then to create mad goth tour buses and soundproof vessels that mean you could take a nap a the club.

As if that list wasn’t impressive enough, to unveil the upcoming Shanghai event comes a short film of epic proportions, which brings together two creative titans. First of all, there’s photographer Wing Shya, whose work spans film, music, fashion and beyond, and rose to prominence capturing the intimacy and emotion of Wong Kar-wai’s film sets – from In The Mood For Love, to Days of Being Wild, to eternal heartbreaker Fallen Angels.

Joining him, and taking a starring role as the protagonist of the Genius short, is musician, visual artist, and actor Leah Dou. Though the multi-hyphenate creative brings something all her own to the clip, there’s a deep-rooted connection between her and Shya – Dou is the daughter of Faye Wong, who worked with Wong Kar-wai on 1994 masterpiece Chungking Express.

With the City of Genius set to throw open its gates on October 19, and the esoteric Shya-lensed film to announce it landing today, we talked to Dou about her role in the project, when she feels most creative, and where she looks when she’s feeling uninspired.

Hi Leah! What creative similarities do you share with Moncler?

Leah Dou: I see a strong creative connection between myself and Moncler, particularly through the Genius campaign and its foundational ideas. I believe in the potential within each individual to reach their fullest capabilities while also understanding the significance of engaging with the outside world. It’s about finding a balance between inner confidence and the humility that comes from being part of a larger community – this is what contributes to the ‘City of Genius.’ This concept influences not just creativity, but also everyday life and spirituality. Moncler embodies this balance by merging personal expression with a collective vision.

Tell me about the project – how did you get involved?

Leah Dou: I’m thrilled to be involved in Moncler’s new Genius campaign, especially with it taking place in Shanghai this year. I was fortunate to have been considered as a candidate for the project, and the opportunity to contribute to something so innovative and exciting really drew me in.

What did you want to convey in the film?

Leah Dou: My goal was to authentically convey the concept of the ‘City of Genius’ along with its core ideas. I wanted to ensure that the essence of this vision was clearly represented in the film.

What was the vibe like on set? Any fun stories?

Leah Dou: We accomplished quite a lot in those two days. From working with a young actress and observing her execution, to shooting with the beautiful fish in the tank, capturing the motorcycle scenes in the tunnels, and, above all, getting me up in the air – it was a full experience. I feel like I gained a lot from this shoot!

Where do you look for inspiration?

Leah Dou:  I draw inspiration from everyday life – observing people, their stories, interactions, and surroundings. Conversations, music, films, books, and art are also powerful sources of creativity for me. You never know what might inspire you, it could be the smallest and most unnoticeable thing.

When do you feel most confident and creative?

Leah Dou: I feel confident when I know I’ve put in the necessary work and can embrace the possibility of failure. I’m quite an anxious person, so knowing I’ve done everything I can and getting past the fear of failure gives me a sense of security.

Click through the gallery or watch the film above for a closer look at City of Genius.