Following his groundbreaking 2014 Spring-Summer runway show with Estonian heavy metal band Winny Puhh, Rick Owens flocked back to his records to find inspiration for his next collection. He found a creative spark in ESG, an American funk rock band formed in the South Bronx by three sisters. In 1981, the group released the upbeat single “Moody” gaining instant popularity in clubs across New York and London and becoming a foundational track for the emerging house music scene. Rick Owens reportedly had the bass-heavy song on repeat when developing his Fall 2014 men’s collection so much that he named the collection after it.
The collection served in stark contrast to his previous work. He moved from epic theatrical shows to laser-focused ones where the clothes were the star, not the glamour surrounding them. The models were used to reflect moody cops and nuns, sporting both tactical gear and long cashmere headwraps. “Moody” served as a transition from where Rick had been in his career to where he was going. In Owen’s own words, “I’m talking myself out of punishing myself for not being perfect.”