Lisa Manobal’s Coachella 2025 Performance Dazzled in Futuristic Asher Levine Designs
Author: Phuriwat Hirunrangsee | Photographer: Courtesy of Asher Levine and the original rights holder
Apr 17, 2025
"...With Coachella 2025 coming to a close, one performance certain to leave a lasting impression is Lisa Manobal’s unforgettable solo set. The Thai superstar took the stage with electrifying energy, delivering a thrilling showcase of tracks from her highly anticipated album Alter Ego. But it wasn’t just the music that left an impression — it was the stunning, futuristic costumes she wore, which transported the audience into an otherworldly vision of the future..."
Behind these groundbreaking looks was the visionary designer Asher Levine, renowned for his ability to blend cutting-edge technology with avant-garde fashion, and for his collaborations with global icons such as Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Doja Cat.
Asher Levine has built a reputation as a pioneer in the world of fashion, merging high-tech innovation with radical aesthetics. Drawing inspiration from biomorphic forms and anatomical structures, his creations come to life through state-of-the-art 3D material science and embedded technology. Known for his use of lab-grown leathers, Levine is at the forefront of next-generation fashion, constantly pushing the boundaries of what clothing can achieve, both functionally and visually.
The Reptilian Villain
For Lisa’s Coachella performance, Levine teamed up with stylist and creative director Brett Alan Nelson to create two bespoke outfits. With just a month to go before the show, Levine and his team in Los Angeles — a blend of fashion, sculpture, and tech talent — worked tirelessly to bring the vision to life.
Lisa’s opening costume was a striking homage to anime cyborgs, reimagined through Levine’s unique lens of reptilian anatomy. The result was a sculpted bodysuit featuring three-dimensional scales, evoking the sleek, interlocking patterns of a lizard. Inspired in part by Lenore, Levine’s rescue iguana, the design was a true fusion of nature and technology.
The creation process began with a full-body scan of Lisa, which allowed Levine to precisely capture her proportions. These measurements were fed into a digital tailoring system, enabling Levine to craft and sculpt garments on her virtual avatar before production. Using AI, he generated a custom geometric scale pattern, which was then handed to his sculpture team to meticulously handcraft each individual scale — or “scute.”
The final ensemble featured bold shoulder armour with dramatic, arched spikes, a custom-designed breastplate, and a front-slouched belt reminiscent of late The final ensemble featured bold shoulder armour with dramatic, arched spikes, a custom-designed breastplate, and a front-slouched belt reminiscent of late-’90s style. The look was completed with reptilian-inspired press-on nails by renowned nail artist Juan Alvear, a long-time collaborator of Lisa. This striking ensemble was worn during her powerhouse performances of Thunder and FUTW.
The Enchanting Tendril
For her second look, Levine delivered a stunning contrast with a glowing tendril suit inspired by bioluminescent insects and translucent fungi. Delicate, glass-like petals adorned the piece, undulating with every movement, while an inner bodysuit traced vibrant, vein-like patterns across her body. Levine’s signature use of embedded wireless lighting transformed Lisa into a glowing vision, her luminescence casting an ethereal glow across the stage during her performance of Moonlit Floor. It was a mesmerising, otherworldly effect, elevating the performance to pure magic.
But beyond the aesthetics, Levine’s true challenge was creating costumes that could withstand the demands of a high-energy live show. The garments had to move like a second skin, allowing Lisa to dance freely and powerfully under the intense stage lights and heat. And Levine succeeded — crafting not just visually stunning pieces, but wearable works of art that allowed Lisa to fully embody her alter ego, proving once again that fashion and technology are a match made in heaven.
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