ISSUE 01 SPRING/ SUMMER 2017
NICHOLAS k LIVE LIFE UNCHARTED
"WADI RUM" NOMADIC WARRIOR
LISA LINHARDT JEWELRY NEW YORK-BASED ARTISANAL
INSPIRED BY "THEEBS" JEWELRY DESIGNER
HIGH FASHION SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
M E E T
T H E
D E S I G N E R S
Nicholas studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and at Polimoda School of Design in Florence, Italy. Upon her return to the US, Nicholas took a position in menswear design at DKNY in
1996
. She joined the
founding team of Coach men’s sportswear the following year and then was courted back to DKNY where she spent the next two years designing womenswear. She went on to launch men’s and women’s apparel for John Varvatos while at Nautica and later consulted on nearly every other major American fashion brand, including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Polo, before launching Nicholas K with her brother Christopher in
2005
.
Prior to launching Nicholas K with his sister, Christopher worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory offering expertise to early stage companies, ranging from competitive marketing analysis to strategic positioning. With a major in biochemistry and molecular cellular biology with and an MBA, Christopher also worked as a fashion model in New York, Milan and Asia and on the retail side for Polo Ralph Lauren in New York City.
His design skills and sensibility developed from his various outdoor pursuits and love of product design. He became a selftaught fabricator- designing and constructing a wide variety of custom products such as an ultra-light bivy, mountaineering pack, and expedition trailer and vehicles.
NICHOLAS K
A L L
A B O U T
N I C H O L A S
Nicholas K is a New York
It is the way we pursue
based design company, founded in January
2003
K
life. Discovering creativity by
siblings Nicholas and
and inspiration amidst the intense energy of modern
Christopher Kunz. Nicholas K was conceptualized with the intent of providing
cities and the beauty and simplicity of nature. We create clothing that
sophisticated customers with
stands above the norm modern classics to become
with elegant precision and wardrobe staples.
functional details, from Incorporating traditional quality and design with modern refinements and a downtown edge, Nicholas K offers items across the full women's RTW
innovative fabrics to twisted wrap treatments on tops and multifunctional constructions,
product range as well as
offering an experience at
accessories and a menswear
once both personal and
line that launched for Fall
luxurious.
2006 2003
. The First collection for
Fall
was extremely well
received and sold through
35
of the top women's specialty boutiques across the U.S. and
Constructed from predominantly natural fibers, our clothes are exceptionally well crafted
Japan. Demand for Nicholas K
and tested for fit and continues to exceed
durability exclusively at our expectations.
own factories. Our
Time and time again, you’ll
dresses, for example, are
hear the phrase “urban
punctuated with
nomad� being used to
innovative design features
describe our brand. While
but also constructed to
aesthetically reminiscent of
allow customers to drape,
this title we like to think our
cinch, fasten, and mold
designs harbor a deeper
into the silhouette of their
connection. Our brand is an expression of our desire for new experience, travel, balanced with our strong connection to nature.
liking. In this manner, our designs are endlessly versatile and the building blocks of a modern wardrobe.
NOMADIC
WARRIOR
NICHOLAS K SPRING/SUMMER 2017
NICHOLAS K
THE COLLECTION
“We veered away from black like we
After pulling inspiration from Star
typically do and opted for a creamier
Wars and Mad Max for the past two
palette inspired by the moonscape
seasons, Nicholas K has finally decided
appearance of Wadi Rum,” says
to move towards more functional
Week, Nicholas K kicked off the
Nicholas Kunz. The palette consisted
pieces with the desert chic
festivities by debuting their
of an array of romantic, dusty neutrals,
silhouettes. Instead of multilayers
simple stripes, and earth tone colors.
silhouettes of the past, the brand
Wraps were the most evident Bedouin
simplified its designs with long caftan
Beginning Day
Spring/Summer
1
of New York Fashion
2017
collection at
Skylight Moynihan Station in
2014
inspiration, applied on dresses and as
style dresses and asymmetrical
“Theeb,” about a young boy a Bedouin
ties around the neck. A standout
jackets.
tribe who must fight to survive after
included a checkered jacket and dress
following his older brother into the
combo, with a daringly draped neckline.
Wadi Rum desert. Christopher Kunz,
It was all sustainable yet rich.
collection has toned down on the
half of the sibling duo behind the brand
Furthermore, crop tops were paired
avante garde, and has become a little
told Reuters, "It's a desert in Jordan
with track pants, skirts and shawls,
more functional. For what appears to
and the landscape is very pale, very
with most of the outfits topped with
be the first time ever, the collections
dusty, very nude, they call it the valley
oversized floppy hats and wrap visors.
emerged into a more shoppable line.
of the moon. So it's very breath
Large silver cuff bracelets
Although Nicholas K has a boutique
taking."
complemented the silver eye makeup
presence in New York, they have yet to
worn by their runway models.
bring in major buyers to their runway
Manhattan. Inspired by the
film,
shows. After being the opening show
As dedicated members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America,
For the first time the brand’s
Fresh and distinct from earlier
for New York Fashion Week for the
Nicholas and Christopher Kunz
collections, the first part of the
past several seasons, they still
consistently advocate sustainability,
collection seems to focus on airy,
haven’t seemed to catch the attention
local craftsmanship. Therefore,
relaxed lines, voluminous cuts and
of any top department stores or e-tail
materials consisting of artisan woven
oversized figures, the second part
buyers. However, this year’s collection
fabrics, organic fabrics such as cotton,
sensually wraps the body with thicker
has brought the company a lot of
linen, vegetable-dyed leathers, and
textures and billowy necklines.
positive press responses that might
alpaca were used in this collection.
Nicholas K translated the film onto the
change this for future seasons.
With all of these combined, Nicholas
runway by dressing his models in
K's signature proportionally
neutral draped pants, loose garments,
manipulated silhouette and layering
oversized floppy hats, and long flowing
styles remained intact.
capes.
NICHOLAS K
ARTISANAL JEWELRY DESIGNER LISA LINHARDT COLLABORATION WITH NICHOLAS K FOR ITS SPRING 2017 COLLECTION Lisa Lindhardt’s jewelry for Nicholas K’s Spring
2017
collection introduced a total of
55
pieces
that were locally manufactured in New York. Awarded the name “New York’s green jeweler,” by New York magazine, Linhardt works exclusively with responsibly sourced gemstones and crafts with certified recycled metals. The collection features only recycled metals and gold. It was a no brainer for the two design companied to work handin-hand as they both conduct environmentally friendly business practices and use sustainable materials.
During the spring
2017
collection debut, models
strutted down the runway wearing oversized and absolutely captivating bracelets, necklaces, rings, and arm pieces in sculptural shapes. Her bold designs are heavily inspired by “repurposing,” a concept she came up with along side her former professor Rob Butler years before. While purchasing metals from silver scrappers to melt down, the two envisioned taking the vintage pieces that were already gorgeously handcrafted and cutting them up to fashion her jewelry.