Designer Asher Levine opens up about designing BLACKPINK Lisa’s bold Coachella looks

When it comes to futuristic fashion that blurs the line between couture and creature, look no further than Asher Levine. The Los Angeles-based designer has made a name for himself dressing music’s most daring modern icons—Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X—and most recently, BLACKPINK’s Lisa for her electrifying solo debut at Coachella. 

Known for merging sculptural forms with cutting-edge materials, Levine brings a visionary edge to every piece he creates. allkpop sat down with the LA-based visionary to talk all things fashion, Coachella, and how he helped bring Lisa’s “Alter Ego” concept to life in the most jaw-dropping way. Check out the interview below:

allkpop: Thank you so much for chatting with us today! K-Pop fans are thrilled with your creations for Lisa. Give us a little bit about your background and what they need to know about Asher!

Asher Levine: I’m a designer based in Los Angeles, and my work is rooted in the aesthetics of the avant-garde—sculptural silhouettes, experimental materials, and forms that feel just a little ahead of their time. I’m drawn to the tension between the organic and the futuristic, and I use that to create pieces that feel like they belong to another world, or maybe the next one.

allkpop: You’re hot off the heels of collaborating with Lisa on unique stage outfits for her solo Coachella debut. How did the collaboration come about, and what were your first conversations like?

Asher: Lisa’s stylist on this project, Brett Alan Nelson, reached out and said the references they were building—these really bold, nature-infused visuals—felt right in line with my work. Once I saw what they were putting together, I knew exactly how to translate it. The conversation from the start was about creating something that would make people feel something the moment she stepped on stage. 

allkpop: What was it like designing for a solo Coachella debut versus a group performance? Did that influence your approach?

Asher: It’s a completely different rhythm. With groups, you’re composing—making sure each look works on its own but harmonizes with the rest. When it’s a solo performance, it’s almost cinematic. You’re telling one story, through one person, but the stakes are higher. Every detail counts. For Lisa, that meant leaning into contrast—building two looks that were visually distinct but connected through her Alter Ego narrative.

allkpop: Did Lisa or her team bring specific references, or were you given free rein creatively? What themes or ideas were central to the designs?

Asher: They came in with a strong creative POV, which I always appreciate. For one look, they said: “Something full-body, almost cyborg,” That kind of clarity gives me the freedom to go deeper. I’m not just designing clothing—I’m building a character, a moment, a feeling. So I took those references and filtered them through my world of evolved exotics, surreal armor, and textures that feel like they’re alive.

allkpop: Can you walk us through your design process for the two high-tech looks—from concept to final fitting? How long did the process take?

Asher: We had about six weeks, which is ambitious given the complexity. For the reptilian villain look, I used my 3D exotic skin process—something I’ve been refining for over a decade. It’s part sculpture, part illusion. For the Sunni Dream sequence look, I wanted to incorporate bioluminescence that glows from within. We created these glass-like tendrils, UV-reactive elements, and sculpted petals that felt soft but strange. My entire atelier is in-house, from 3D printing to sewing, so the flow is very intuitive. That’s how we were able to make something so intricate in such a short time.

allkpop: What special techniques or innovations went into the making of her outfits?

Asher: I’ve been experimenting with polymer skins and sculptural materials for years. For Lisa’s looks, it was about inventing surfaces that feel like they belong to a new species. There’s a kind of alchemy that happens when you merge digital fabrication with hand-sculpting. The final result moves and breathes in a way that feels uncanny.

allkpop: How do you balance avant-garde aesthetics with the function needed for high-energy performances like Coachella?

Asher: Designing for performance is like engineering movement into sculpture. You have to know where something needs to stretch, where it needs to anchor, and how to let the body speak through the garment. That balance is where the magic happens.

allkpop: Now that the looks have debuted, how do you feel about them? Do you see them differently than when you first conceived them?

Asher: I’m so proud of them. Each project teaches me something new, but this one in particular feels like a turning point. These looks captured so many layers of what I love—textural, creature transformation. Watching Lisa bring them to life, seeing people respond to them in such a positive way.

allkpop: Can you share a behind-the-scenes moment that stood out during fittings or rehearsals?

Asher: There’s this sweet moment that still makes me smile—Lisa met my iguana, Lenore, during one of the rehearsals. I’d joked about bringing her in because she has spikes, just like the suit. But I actually did it. Lenore rode on Lisa’s back for a bit, which felt like a real crossover moment: reptilian muse meets the reptilian queen. It was weird and perfect.

allkpop: You’ve worked with icons like Gaga, Doja Cat, Taylor Swift, and Lil Nas X. Are there any past looks you’re especially fond of?

Asher: I honestly pour so much into every look—it’s hard to choose. But this project with Lisa stands out because it felt so aligned. The team trusted me, the timeline pushed us, and the end result felt alive. That’s the kind of work I want to keep doing—where every detail is intentional, and the final piece has a pulse.

allkpop: How do you see the intersection of fashion, performance, and identity evolving? Where do you want to take your work next?

Asher: I think fashion is becoming more like a language. It’s not just about what you wear—it’s what you say through it. I see garments as extensions of the self—layers that hold memory, power, emotion. 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. That’s where it gets exciting.

allkpop: What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or launches?

Asher: We just wrapped our first production batch of the Alien Gel Bag, which I’m so excited about—it’s our first Gel series launch, and the response has been amazing. We’re rolling out new colors. Beyond that, I have new ready-to-wear coming, more sculptural fashion, new collaborations. The goal is always the same: to help unlock your ALien ALter Ego.