There are some people destined to work in fashion – and Kenneth Nicholson is among them. His  creative interests started at a young age – designing collections and hosting fashion presentations in Houston, learning from fashion coverage he closely studied even before he was a teenager.

Since then, Nicholson has proven himself to be one of American fashion’s rising talents. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist and nominee for the 2021 American Emerging Designer of the Year award has attracted the attention of the industry with his forward-thinking approach to menswear. Ahead of his time – so much so that his own designs got him rejected from his high school homecoming dance – he is now a leader in the changing conversation around fashion, gender, and identity.

To mark his nomination, we caught up with Nicholson at his Los Angeles studio to learn more.

Congratulations on your CFDA Fashion Awards nomination! What was your reaction and how did you celebrate?

I was very excited and emotional. The CFDA is an institution that I’ve looked up to since childhood. I’ve fantasized about being a part of the CFDA family for a very long time! Seeing icons like Diane von Furstenberg and Mr. Tom Ford take the helm was very exciting and spoke volumes to me concerning the importance of leadership and awareness in stewarding the community of American fashion design.

When did you realize you wanted to pursue a career in fashion?

When I was about 12 or so, I remember falling in love with the collective energy of visuals and music. It held such power! I was always having internal conversations as to how to harness that. It later dawned on me that you could achieve, in a way,  that same outcome with fashion. I watched all the fashion coverage I could. They were usually being analyzed by Tim Blanks, which, in turn, was truly somewhat of an education. I would leave those impromptu fashion courses feeling smarter and more traveled. What really pulled at me were my trips to the Houston Galleria where I would spend hours inspecting all of the high-end designer garments to see how they were constructed. Mr. Tom Ford for Gucci was by far a marvel. How garments translated from runway presentation to in store racks while holding the same integrity and interest was simply mesmerizing. It was teaching me that there is in fact a bar, a level of expectation concerning execution as well as taste that must be considered. It was also problem solving. This was the moment that connected all of the dots for me, it made it feel closer.

What’s your fashion philosophy today?

Today, I believe that my work and its construction must be integrious. The elements that are valued are creativity and originality. I strive to lean into new ideas, concepts and challenges that continue to push fashion forward.

What were some key moments or career highlights that got you to this point?

Showing for the first time in New York Fashion Week was a huge milestone for us. It affirmed that the work was in fact resonating with a wider idea. I remember visiting the Vogue offices for the first time. I was meeting with Chioma Nnadi and I was very nervous, more so than usual. I remember seeing the iconic Vogue [logo] etched over transparent glass as I stepped off the elevator and thinking to myself “this is huge Kenneth.” You have to remember, I’m a very sensitive person so I tend to be careful with everything. Needless to say the first time I saw my work in Vogue was pretty much a wormhole into another dimension. I literally feel like I am currently living in my dream, only it’s my reality.

Are there any people that have played a key role in your journey?

Absolutely! My very first mentor Cintia Rico was instrumental in nurturing me at a very early age. She always says that she saw something in me that was intriguing and wanted to help bring it out. The first time we met was outside of my high school homecoming dance, I was denied entry because of my attire which was heartbreaking because I put together a look inspired by one of my favorite designers, Mr. Tom Ford, when he was at Gucci. I also designed and sewed my sister’s dress who was my date. Cintia saw me in a bit of distress and tried to help with no success, that was our meet cute. So to now be nominated for American Emerging Designer of the Year by the CFDA and to be personally invited to share space with Mr. Tom Ford, feels divine!

What are you looking forward to the most at this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards?

To begin with, everything. I would like to be grounded and present to take it all in and truly live in the moment.

What’s something you hope to change about the fashion industry? 

I would like to see an emergence of industries and cultural grooming concerning craftsmanship and high-end garment making that are regarded as much as our European counterparts.

What is something you hope to accomplish in your career? Where do you want to take the brand looking forward?

I hope to change the way that men engage fashion, perceptions around the way men should interact with fashion, and work to evolve the sartorial options and conventions of menswear. I also long to establish Kenneth Nicholson as an American legacy fashion house, with a wide reach into other sectors.

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