Laura Kim grew up in Seoul, South Korea, where she learned the basics of sewing, pattern-making and sketching. When she moved to New York to attend Pratt Institute, her talents were immediately recognized with scholarships from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Fashion Group International.

As a fashion student, she interned at TSE Cashmere, Donna Karan, and Oscar de la Renta. Mr. de la Renta was impressed with her work and offered her a permanent job. Kim worked with Oscar de la Renta for 12 years as his Design Director, where she supervised all aspects of collection development and managed a studio responsible for fabric design, ready to wear, knitwear and accessories. She met Fernando Garcia at Oscar de la Renta and together, they launched Monse in 2016.