NYFW | Nicholas K

The siblings behind the New York-based brand use utilitarian aesthetics to deliver sophisticated daytime ensembles. For their S/S 12 collection they opted for layers of voluminous floaty fabrics in cool hues, teamed with solid-green parkas to give the typical grunge look a refreshing and contemporary lift. Kwok speaks to the busy pair to find out what they have in store for A/W 12…

Tell us about the inspiration behind your upcoming A/W collection?

We focused on the 1920s artistic gatherings of American visionaries Georgia O’Keefe, Ansel Adams and Paul Strand, [when they were] at the Taos Lodge of patroness and socialite, Mabel Dodge Luhan. Among the pueblos and indigenous culture of Taos, the artists found a sparse lifestyle alternative to the New York salon gatherings, and produced starkly modern works of desert minimalism in photography, paint and literature.

Have you encountered any challenges as a new brand so far?

Production is a big problem. No matter how great your ideas are, if you can’t execute them properly, it’s not the same. You have to be extremely organised, know the process, and develop strong relationships with your team and everyone you work with. Trust and loyalty is everything.

What is your thought on the fashion industry’s current obsession with the digital world?

There is more instant availability and variety of product. Magazine press is no longer the only gatekeeper of fashion, as people have the opportunity to voice their opinions to a broader audience via blogs, websites, etc…

What are you looking forward to most this month?

Our celebration dinner at the Mondrian Soho the night of our show to thank our team for all their hard word this week! Escaping to our cabin in the woods just after fashion week also.

What exclusive information can you give us about your A/W show?

Nancy Sinatra- Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

Who curated the music for your upcoming A/W12 show at the Lincoln Center?

Olivier Bobin & Yannick Grandjean (P.A.T.). They are talented designers, composers and musicians that are based in Paris. They understand the feeling and fusion between fashion and music.

What was the inspiration for your A/W 12 lookbook and who was the photographer?

Inspiration came from portraits taken by Paul Strand and Mabel Dodge Luhan in Taos. Our photographer is Francis Hills. He is great and has been working with us from day one. Its amazing to see both of our progression in design and photography through the years.