Early Breakthrough and Luxury Campaign Work

Nik Thakkar’s entry into the fashion world came through notable early recognition. He was scouted in Paris by Jean Paul Gaultier and went on to become part of Gaultier’s AW13–14 digital campaign. This positioned him not simply as a participant but as a visible face within a major luxury house’s global communication strategy.

From there, he expanded into collaborations with other major brands, including Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford. One of his credited appearances includes Louis Vuitton’s “Art of Packing” campaign, as well as involvement in Tom Ford’s short film “An Ode to Oud.” These projects placed him within the visual and conceptual storytelling side of fashion, where campaigns often blend cinematic production with brand identity.

At this stage, his role aligned with that of a model and campaign figure, working alongside established creative teams while building recognition within the luxury sector.

Ada + Nik: Founding a Fashion Label

A major development in his career was the co-founding of the fashion label Ada + Nik with designer Ada Zanditon. The brand operated within the runway ecosystem, presenting collections at both London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week over multiple seasons.

Ada + Nik became known for its futuristic, dark aesthetic and its engagement with gender-fluid design principles. The label explored silhouettes and concepts that challenged conventional distinctions in menswear and womenswear, aligning with broader shifts in fashion toward non-binary expression.

In 2015, Ada + Nik received the GenArt Prize at New York Fashion Week, marking recognition within an industry platform that highlights emerging design talent. This period represents a transition in Thakkar’s career from participant to creator, as he moved into shaping collections and presenting them on international runways.

Collaboration with Will.i.am and Wearable Technology

Beyond traditional fashion design, Nik Thakkar engaged in experimental collaboration that intersected with technology and innovation. One of the most notable examples is his work with will.i.am, where they developed a camera-enabled biker jacket concept.

This project reflects an early exploration of wearable technology in fashion, combining functional hardware with garment design. It also situates Thakkar within a niche of fashion creatives interested in merging product design with digital functionality, rather than limiting work to aesthetic expression alone.

Brand Consulting and Industry Work

In addition to design and modeling, Thakkar has contributed to brand strategy and creative consultancy for several major companies. His portfolio includes work connected to Coca-Cola, specifically Diet Coke, as well as projects involving Xbox, Motorola, and Selfridges.

This aspect of his career highlights a behind-the-scenes role in shaping campaigns and creative direction. Rather than being solely a front-facing figure, he operated in advisory and conceptual capacities, contributing to how brands communicate visually and culturally.

Fashion Industry Presence and Cultural Visibility

Throughout the mid-2010s, Nik Thakkar maintained a visible presence within the fashion circuit. He was frequently associated with events, shows, and social environments that overlap with major industry gatherings, including fashion weeks and brand activations.

His positioning within this space contributed to his reputation as a recurring figure in high-profile fashion environments. This visibility extended beyond formal roles, placing him within a network of designers, brands, media figures, and creatives who collectively shape contemporary fashion culture.

Expansion into Fragrance and Identity-Driven Projects

Thakkar later expanded his creative output into product development beyond clothing. One example is the launch of GODDEX, a genderless fragrance concept that aligns with his broader interest in identity, spirituality, and self-expression.

This move reflects a continuation of themes present throughout his work, where fashion, personal identity, and conceptual storytelling intersect. Rather than operating strictly within apparel, his projects began to encompass broader lifestyle and sensory experiences.

Positioning Within the Fashion Ecosystem

Across his career, Nik Thakkar’s role has shifted between several interconnected positions:

• Campaign face for luxury brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton, and Tom Ford
• Co-founder and designer of the Ada + Nik label
• Collaborator in experimental projects involving figures like will.i.am
• Consultant for global brands including Coca-Cola, Xbox, Motorola, and Selfridges
• Participant in runway presentations at London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week

This combination of roles places him within a hybrid category of fashion professional, where modeling, design, consulting, and cultural participation overlap rather than exist as separate paths.

Conclusion

Nik Thakkar’s fashion background forms the foundation of his broader creative identity as NEO 10Y. Beginning with early recognition in Paris and involvement in major luxury campaigns, he transitioned into co-founding a runway label, collaborating on experimental design projects, and contributing to brand strategy across industries.

His career reflects a consistent presence within high fashion environments, supported by collaborations with established designers, global brands, and creative figures. Over time, this foundation expanded into a multidisciplinary practice that integrates fashion, identity, technology, and cultural expression into a unified creative approach.

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Choose Your Coat

It is fairly self-explanatory that your coat is going to be one of your most important items of clothing during the winter months. You may want to have a couple of different options depending on the weather outside. A long woollen or faux fur overcoat is a stylish option, but it will not stand up too well in the rain or snow. In these conditions, you will be thankful for a good-quality waterproof jacket. If your workplace is more casual, you may well want to go for a short and simple coat option. Take a look at some of the different choices on Dickies Life. However, if you wear a suit to work, a nice winter overcoat will do the job of keeping you warm and protecting your outfit.

Winter Business Suits

Now that the weather is getting colder outside, you may want to switch to a three-piece suit which is a stylish choice and one that will keep you that little bit warmer when you are in the office. Make sure that all of the pieces go well together as an odd waistcoat can look a little sloppy compared with the rest of the outfit. If you are sick of plain grey or black suits, why not try a nice charcoal pinstripe one instead? Pinstripes help to both slim the figure and give off a sophisticated image.

Select Your Shoes

When it comes to your shoes, you should make sure that they are both polished and pristine. If you are looking for a stylish and practical option, you could try some ankle boots which appear like a smart business shoe but they have the added benefit of keeping your feet both warm and dry.

Finish Off the Look with Accessories

No winter look is completed without a couple of well-chosen accessories. Leather gloves look great with a wide variety of outfits and a nice scarf is a ubiquitous and stylish choice. Going for colours which are a little bit darker is the safe choice as they will go with more things. If you would prefer to go for something that is a little more out there, maroon or emerald are good choices.

So, hopefully, you now feel a little more confident in choosing winter outfits which are perfect around the office. Essentially, you are looking to get the right balance between style and practicality. Darker colours tend to be the most popular during this season. The staples of the season include your coat, shoes, a couple of suits and the right accessories.

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With that mindset, I’ve always been fascinated with the latest portable speaker technology, so you can imagine how happy I was to experience the latest offering in the field of portable sound – Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay P2.

The Beoplay P2 is the smallest and most intelligent member of the B&O PLAY range of wireless Bluetooth speakers and is designed by award-winning Cecilie Manz for a spontaneous and spirited approach to life. It is rounded, smooth and desirable and fits perfectly in the palm of your hand with its timeless shape.

When it came to actually playing the device, it is actually insanely powerful considering its size, filling a small sized room fully and really giving the listener the opportunity to feel and experience the output.

Some additional elements that make the P2 special are its intuitive gesture control functionality, fully customisable via the Beoplay App (such a unique prospect for your device), 360-degree sound dispersion so everywhere sounds the same and the fact that it is splash and dust resistant – ideal for the beach!

It’s definitely worth the £149 price tag, if you want your personal sonic experience to be fulfilling! You can shop it in black, sandstone and royal blue from here.

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Regardless, it happened one way or the other and I couldn’t be happier. These were shot in Nine Elms with Coco Caribou, Phellipe Souza and the inimitable Bemi Shaw. I paired the Maharishi jump suit with Rick Owens’ scuba boots and a pair of yellow tinted aviators, plus a cameo from my puppy 10.

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The brand has come on leaps and bounds since then. They suitcases are now released into market, with design pop ups taking place in major cities such as London and a USP which is pretty ideal for travellers such as myself.

This week’s spotlight is dedicated to Horizn Studios’ The Cabin Trolley in Olive Green (I know, such a variation from my traditional black, but I really love all of the dark tones offered by Horizn equally).

To summarise the wearable tech element – as you can see demonstrated in the images below, my 7+ is plugged into the case via a removable slide in charger drive which seamlessly fits into the case and can be used for more on-the-go uses, as well as upgrading the tech. Genius.

Visit horizn-studios.com to see what else is available and to shop directly online.

Shoes by Kurt Geiger, Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford, headphones H4 by Beoplay B&O , jacket BLK DNM, fanny pack – details to come…

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Now, countless young designers and established brands and either showing both collections together, marketing them through diverse models and visuals and we’re collectively moving towards a space where labels won’t really matter.

Of course, this is taking time – and in the face of the Trump’s of this world and a regressive mindset, there’s so much still to fight for.

The fashion industry is definitely focusing on more than just the typical cycling of menswear looks into women’s runway shows. But why? It’s definitely largely in part due to the celebrity (and digital/media) influences that are shaking up the status quo, as well as the transformative gender ideals that designers have been experimenting with in response to the evolution and growing support for the trans community.

Jaden and Willow Smith are the perfect modern examples of humans actively fighting for a more progressive future. This has also been supported in the editorials and campaigns that they’ve been part of recently – for example this shoot by Steven Klein for Interview Magazine. Not only do Jaden and Willow wear clothing that society would normally label for “men” and “women,” but they also speak openly to Interview magazine about their experimental sense of fashion and how that’s allowed them to feel comfortable wearing the highly androgynous looks they sport for the photo shoot.

Androgynous fashion isn’t anything new, but marketing aside, it is also important to let the product speak for itself instead of turning it into a contemporary hook. However, the marked differences between now and then are the new generational values and social openness towards gender fluidity in general. Although far from perfect, people are able to dress how they want with far less judgment than ever before. On a personal level, I’ve been wearing man-dresses for quite some time and in general, jeans have long been a sought after pan-gender staple for sometime now. There are “boyfriend” styles targeted specifically for women, but actually wearing the denim designed “for him” is just fine, too. I’m also a big fan of skinny jeans designed for women, but worn by guys. Sizing up and choosing something with a bit of stretch gives a trendy, fitted look that won’t get baggy as the day goes on.

With that said, it’s ultimately up to us, the consumers and the public to help bring this more progressive mindset into the mainstream. When we continue to abide by the rigid roles we’re used to, then that is precisely what we’ll be offered. Step outside the box today, and everyday, in an attempt to catalyse this open mindedness and acceptance for all.

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If you’ve been watching Scream Queens on FOX (or an illegal online platform near you) you may have noticed the immaculate styling of the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority, particularly Chanel Oberlin played by Emma Roberts. I certainly spotted some Fendi and vintage Chanel, so I was really glad to see this video of Emma Roberts and costume designer Lou Eyrich give us a tour of the Scream Queens wardrobe trailer…and yes, there’s even some Alice and Olivia in the mix!

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How homelessness is defined is something that has always been really interesting to me. So I was instantly interested in the concept of this documentary the minute I heard. Meet Mark Reay and the new documentary about his life – Homme Less.

According to director Thomas Wirthensohn “HOMME LESS captures a raw and unfiltered moment in time, our time, and raises the question of how far are we from losing everything, even our homes? How often do we have to pretend that everything is fine in order to keep up the facade of being a well-off member of society? And how far do we go to take the financial pressure off our shoulders to live a more carefree life, a life we aspire to live?”

The film is released on August 7.

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It’s coming home, after four years. Experiencing Savage Beauty in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was iconic, to say the least, but London is truly where it belongs. In partnership with Swarovski and supported by American Express, Savage Beauty arrives at the V&A from 14 March until 19 July 2015. Tickets go on sale at 10:00 tomorrow (25 April 2014). The exhibition is being curated by Claire Wilcox, Senior Curator of Fashion, V&A and Professor in Fashion Curation, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.

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