Nicholas K Fall 2019 RTW – New York Fashion Week.

(Images from Vogue.com and wwd.com. The public domain. All rights. Used in promotion of the designer.)

The very talented brother sister due of Nicholas and Christoper Kunz, who make up the brand Nicholas K, have designed and portrayed a serious yet serene collection for their Fall 2019 Ready-to-Wear showing.  Having reviewed their shows/collections in the past, I have always liked their take on fashion, particularly with now Fast Fashion now reeving up to a intensified degree. While designer fashion, in its own reflection as an industry, begins to slow down.  It will be the conglomerated 'fashion' brands that will start undercutting.  As a global slowdown is probably on the cards, mixed with selling and price stalling. The paradoxical aspect about fast fashion in an economic slowdown, is it can produce off the runways looks in less than a 2 weeks and have them within the stores within a week. So, it is important for the designers who rely on hard work and creative inspiration to rework into a newer angle. Sustainability could be it, catchphrases aside and its hastag jargon, which has cheapened and diluted most so called advocacy causes. The reality is fast fashion is a major polluter, doesn't employ local designers and creative people. Rather it manifests itself en masse by churning out poorly made clothes made in third world countries. Which will end up filling landfills in less than 6mths.

The photo shoot for Nicholas K's Fall 2019 collection took place in their upstate New York art studio, that has been constructed with recycled woods, glass and materials, powered by solar panels.  To sustain: is to endure.  A word that is seldom used within the digitalized networks and its feigned illusion, yet, it is the most poignant in what it means to create and to design.  It's not easy.  Harder still, if it is done away from what might be deemed a comfortable setting.  Nature, within its harsh reality can strengthen or break a person's will. Depends on, as mentioned, their endurance and willpower. 

Hardy and durable array, draped and tough looking. Styled against the New York winter setting.  Heavy cotton, linen. Wools, leather and suede.  Arranged onto the model in a defiant perspective of styles.  Cropped shearer jackets and long coats. The clothing looks at times relaxed and resilient simultaneously,  while structurally offering the wearer quality over quantity.   Which is important.

The color palette is muted between toned done browns and neutral grays and achromatic white and black.  Some of Nicholas K's notable print work is also on display, mixed with a very small dose of the early 80s inner city nightlife styles. In which the designer duo instigated as one of the main trends of 2019, back in 2017.