In a dazzling fusion of fashion, performance, and high-concept storytelling, BLACKPINK’s Lisa stunned audiences during her solo Coachella debut—not just with her charisma and talent, but with her jaw-dropping, futuristic stage looks. The creative force behind those now-iconic ensembles?
Los Angeles-based designer Asher Levine, whose boundary-pushing designs have previously adorned icons like Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, and Doja Cat.
Now, Levine adds Lisa to his list of style muses in a collaboration that has become a defining moment in both their careers.
In an exclusive interview, Levine opened up about the process of designing for Lisa, his signature blend of technology and couture, and the deeply collaborative journey that brought her “Alter Ego” theme to life on the world’s most visible music stage.
From the beginning, the vision was bold: Lisa’s stylist, Brett Alan Nelson, approached Levine with visual references that were lush, elemental, and otherworldly—right in Levine’s wheelhouse.
Known for his sci-fi-infused silhouettes and textural experimentation, Levine saw this not just as a styling opportunity, but as a chance to create a character.
“I’m not just designing clothing—I’m building a character, a moment, a feeling,” he shared.
With only six weeks to bring the concept to life, Levine and his team launched into high gear. For Lisa’s “reptilian villain” look, he deployed a custom 3D exotic skin technique he’s honed over years, creating armor-like textures that slithered with personality.
The second look—dubbed the “Sunni Dream” sequence—embraced organic surrealism: glowing UV-reactive petals, translucent tendrils, and bioluminescent effects that made Lisa appear otherworldly, yet dreamlike.
The key to making it all work? Innovation paired with intention. Levine emphasizes that designing for performance is as much about engineering movement as it is about aesthetics.
“You have to know where something needs to stretch, where it needs to anchor, and how to let the body speak through the garment,” he explained.
Yet despite the technical complexity, the collaboration was infused with moments of fun and whimsy—including one particularly unforgettable moment when Lisa met Lenore, Levine’s real-life iguana muse.
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“Lenore rode on Lisa’s back for a bit,” he said with a laugh. “It was weird and perfect.”
A literal embodiment of the reptilian inspiration behind the look.
Levine also touched on how meaningful this project was for him personally, calling it a “turning point” that aligned perfectly with his creative vision.
“These looks captured so many layers of what I love—textural, creature transformation,” he said.
The result wasn’t just fashion—it was performance art.
Beyond Coachella, Levine is looking ahead. With his “Alien Gel Bag” already making waves in the fashion world and more ready-to-wear collections on the horizon, he continues to push the boundaries of fashion as a medium for identity, expression, and storytelling.
“I want to keep pushing into new territories—new materials, new forms—so people can express identities that maybe haven’t existed yet in physical form.”
With Lisa as his muse and Coachella as his canvas, Asher Levine proved that fashion’s future is not just wearable—it’s alive.
