When people walk through the door of Nigel Curtiss' exquisitely designed new store in New York’s Meatpacking district they are enveloped in a symphony of design, color, and sound. The music, custom curated by Syn’s Nick Wood, Benji Compston and Derek McNiell, pays homage to Curtiss – a designer and celebrity tailor whose clients include Kyle MacLachlan, Derek Jeter, Tom Cruise, and Pierce Brosnan. And like Curtiss’ creations, the music collection weaves together a spirited sense of style, unapologetic irreverence, classic heritage, and wit.
Both British-born artists, Wood and Curtiss’ longtime friendship began when the two worked together on a runway show in Tokyo for Curtiss’ launch of Comme Des Garçons Homme. They kept in touch over the years; Wood composing music for entertainment and advertising while Curtiss expanded his mark on the fashion world at Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo and his independent, custom clientele.
Quality craftsmanship and a passion for immersing people in tactical experiences are common ground for Curtiss and Wood. This is evident in their collaborations, from the inaugural runway show to the New York store, and accompanying new brand films heralding in Curtiss’ foray into ready to wear. It’s a relationship forged in mutual admiration and a shared appreciation for the intersection of fashion and music. Click here to watch one of the brand films.
Curtiss’ expansion into RTW for both men and women, is launched in collaboration with his wife Monica Mitro, former executive vice president of brand communications and events at Victoria’s Secret. All of the fabrics used in the launch capsule are sourced from family-run and owned factories that have been a part of Curtiss’ designs for decades, as part of his commitment to ethically supplied materials.
Walking through the store, sunlight catches the gold of a 200-year-old large-scale screen, on loan from the Eric Thomsen Gallery. – an homage to Curtiss’ time in Japan, a place Nick Wood still calls home. Racks showcase tailored jackets, fine loungewear, and crisp shirts in a variety of hues and prints. Songs are snapshots of time and emotion – glam rock, post punk and new wave. Outside, it’s starting to get chilly. Inside, it will always be warm.
To find out more about Nigel Curtiss visit: www.nigelcurtiss.com.
For information on music agency Syn go to syn.world.
