“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern.”
– William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Copenhagen based designer Nicklas Kunz presented a unique, capsule collection as a part of Copenhagen Fashion Week. The vibrant show was presented at the eclectic ZOO bar, in the centre of Copenhagen, full of buzzing, lively crowd.
‘Everyone wants to be the cool kid, that means you must be bold in order to stand out’ says creative director Nicklas Kunz. He draws inspiration from the lights and colours that capture attention- shining bright lights provoking recognition and inspire the wearer to be unique.
The KUNZ man is confident and daring yet deep. He listens to hip hop and reads essays by Aldous Huxley, the English writer and philosopher that his book ‘The Doors’ inspired the collection.
Elaborating on his psychedelic experience under the influence of mescaline, Huxley recalls the insights he experienced, ranging from the “purely aesthetic” to “sacramental vision” reflecting on their philosophical and intellectual implications.
The collection was born out of our constant need for social validation and escapism. Nicklas would like his wearer, men or women, to connect to his spacey, hippie techno, holographic colour palette from a lucid state of mind. Taking them on a journey to the future and expanding their minds through shining light colours and his signature minimalistic shapes.
Vinyl, tartan, pvc, polyester, cotton, mesh and leather are used to create staple pieces such as hoodies, jackets crew necks and stand out accessories. The collection also features a special tribute to American rapper Nipsey Hussle – with pieces carrying his portrait and the text ‘spirit animal’.
About Nicklas Kunz
Originally from a suburb near Copenhagen, Kunz trained with Henrik Vibskov, Soulland, Mandy Coon and Alexander Wang before launching his first collection in 2012 – First in Copenhagen and then taking the line to New York City. Nicklas holds a BA (Hons) from Bournemouth University, UK and MA in menswear from the Kolding School of Design, Denmark.
Manhood & male identity are at the core of the brand. The designs are created for the modern, urban man presenting strong and masculine silhouettes. Straight lines and sharp cuts usually dominate the sleek styles, and the signature bold, contemporary designs, mixing sophistication and ruggedness were seen on celebrities such as American rapper Kendrick Lamar and also created wardrobe pieces for Beyoncé & Nicki Minaj as a part of their tour.
KUNZ has an innovative, untraditional approach to fashion – always looking forward and not necessarily in line with the industry timeline. Shop the collection HERE
To find out more about the brand visit Nicklas Kunz
KUNZ on Instagram
