“New Skin”
Concept | Within fashion, garments are often described as a second skin but what does it look like when clothing transforms, distorts, and becomes a part of you? It becomes your new skin. Inspired by the structure of music, the shape of the circle, and experimentation with leather, my collection is an accumulation of the past, present, and future. Influenced by the zoot suit, I wanted to create a collection that reflected exaggerated proportions and garments that hold a cultural significance in a specific moment of time. In the age of Trump, there are increasing anxieties of nuclear fallout. If humans were to survive a nuclear blast, what would they wear? The women of my collection can be understood as the futuristic post-apocalyptic youth wearing their “new skin”.
Bio | Born and raised in Chicago, Nicholas Bradé is a fashion designer with a streetwear background. Constantly observing the urban landscape and analyzing the diverse city as a young boy, skateboarding and graffiti were his initial entry points into creative expression. In the spring of 2017, he graduated from the University of Kansas with a fine art degree and an emphasis in textile design and fiber arts. He is interested in the relationship between fashion and music and looks to the rich history of both for inspiration. His collection, “New Skin,” deals with garments becoming a part of us and defining a new but familiar aesthetic.