Rick Owens Spring Summer 1998 ‘Monsters’ The Spring of 1998 marked the birth of a new era in fashion, the delivery of Owens' first complete collection 'Monsters.' Having worked as a pattern cutter for his partner Michelle Lamy, Owens felt it was time to make a statement of his own. From the onset, Owens challenged industry standards, pursuing a single vision for the world he intended to create. Inspired by the skilled 20th-century designer Madeleine Vionnet, Rick Owens constructed elaborate and elusive patterns for his garments that were somewhat reminiscent of Robert Mapplethorpe's flowers. This collection also established Owens' love for atypical materials. Wild monkey furs and garments blended with acetate, rayon, and silk made their way into the collection. This motif would become standard throughout Owens' later years. Soon after the release of 'Monsters,' Kate Moss was photographed in one of Owens' classic leather jackets, proving pivotal for the house and Owens himself. Vogue America sponsored Owens a year later and backed his first runway presentation at New York Fashion Week. It may have been Owens' first collection, but it set the tone for what ultimately would become a commercial success.