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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Today I wanted to spotlight the Y3 offering, specifically the Y3 Kyujo Low Trainers in black, which I’m completely obsessed with from a comfort and wearability POV. Here they are worn with a Fendi AW16 gown/coat and socks from Calvin Klein. As you’ll notice, they even glow in the dark, ideal for cycling at night or in a club!

Stocking 85 luxury designer brands and around 8000 products, definitely make sure you visit www.mainlinemenswear.co.uk

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Filming was pretty under wraps, although I did get to take some photos backstage that weren’t clearly identifiable!

Fast forward four months and I wake up one morning in LA and my phone is going off the hook – I was convinced someone had died, but it turns out the first trailer had arrived and low and behold, my cameo made it into the trailer (see it at 1.02) in the loudest/most audacious sense! Watch below…

It’s pretty dope, I mean, the trailer was everywhere, seen probably 100 million times around the world at some quite iconic moment – the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race etc. – and I have to thank everyone for their kind words and double-taking/hitting me up on social media – because damn it was very very cool and the scream took quite some work and commitment on set in front of 100 people including Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and Mandy Fletcher who all thanked me for doing it after. I think Jennifer’s words were “you nailed it”.

Last night, finally saw the premiere of the film – and a big thank you to Premier for organising my ticket. I went with my dear dear friend Alexis Knox who is also in the film. Also a massive thank you to Fendi for always supporting me (and to Alex for taking this portrait which I adore).

Anyway enough about me, THE FILM! Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie is incredible. For fans, for new comers, the quality of the product – I mean, seeing our favourite characters on screen, shot in such a beautiful way with surround sound – it really really added value. The jokes were top notch, with one liner after one liner, throwback references “you little bitch troll from hell” / “walking down the road”, it’s beautiful, nostalgic, genius – everything you would want it to be. Go see it, 100% – you will NOT be disappointed!

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I’ve historically tried to make my own attempt at con temporising formalwear, such as wearing a mesh t-shirt with a Balenciaga suit and so on, however this isn’t always the 21st Century solution. Embracing a more formal tradition for suiting has definitely become more appealing, and let’s be real – sometimes you don’t have the choice. Unless you are Kanye West at the Met Gala, we all have to conform in some capacity for black tie events and the classic is more often than not a sure fire winner.

In the GIF below and image above, I am wearing a suit jacket by Fendi, shirt and tie both by Dior Homme and trousers by Corneliani. Ideal attire for long casino nights, yachts in Cannes and so much more. Going back to how to dress for the casino, the quote “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” from Seneca definitely comes to mind.

I also wanted to share three tips on embracing your inner Patrick Bateman for formal events. If you are wearing a tuxedo make sure to pair it with a bow tie for the most formal of functions, otherwise you can embrace your inner rebel and opt for a long tie. Technically the only correct neckwear to wear with a tuxedo is a bow tie.

Secondly, to button or not to button. Again, there are a couple of options here to get your best look. The most formal and preferred option for your best look is a one-button coat, but a two-button coat will also work. Just never button the bottom button if there’s more than one button!

Thirdly, let’s look at shirting. Ideally wear a white shirt, black shirts can work if you want to rebel – something that I do quite often, but there is sometimes the risk of looking like a waiter in all black! The contrast is important in defining a broader silhouette that tuxedos are created to enhance. When it comes to a shirt collar, you have the option of wing-tip collar shirts and turn-down collar shirts, it really depends on whether you want to make a statement or if you’re wearing coat tails, in which case a wing-tip can look phenomenal!

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Last month, I had the honour of shooting some incredible content with GQ and one of the world’s foremost technology and communications brands Huawei. This was all part and parcel of a wider GQ campaign for the brand that included street style highlights, documenting the campaign with Mario Testino, an event and influencer panel and more.

Needless to say, the production level when working with GQ on a project of this nature is rather brilliant, and this is showcased in all of the moving imagery below. The piece itself focusses on a “Day In The Life of Nik Thakkar” from gym regimen to work, and breakfast to going out, showcasing the wide variety of uses for the Android-powered smart watch across style and functionality.

Fashion credits include Hermes (stripped sweater), Fendi (blazer), Dior (white shirt), Y3 (sweat pants), Iffley Road (white t-shirt), McQ (jeans). For the full experience head over to GQ.

Big thanks to Adam Day-Lewin from GQ and Suresh Kara for their creative and direction, Raj Rudolf, Ada Almeida and Livia Burton for production and casting, Hannah Elwell for styling and Andrea Bayliss for grooming.

The post A Day In The Life, With GQ and Huawei appeared first on KIMU.

How much we progressed with Ada + Nik

First and foremost, the biggest thing to happen was when Ada + Nik (our menswear brand still in its infancy) won the Gen Art Award (previously won by Zac Posen, Rodarte, Philip Lim and more) at New York Fashion Week where we had the opportunity to showcase our collection. Ada and I have worked tirelessly over the last two years to create a menswear experience that people want to undertake through various mediums, it’s a world to us and after we did the Immersive Experience at LCM in June, we really fundamentally understood who we were and what this direction stood for. When Gen Art called to tell us what we had won, our collective minds were genuinely blown – it was such an honour. This is the photo that Angel Haze took from the front row at the finale. I personally just want to thank everyone who has supported this venture so far and how excited I am to progress this baby to the next level.

Secondly, we were also picked up to be stocked at Harrods and we made a bit of an impact with our wearable technology development too. You can read about it on Forbes here. Oh and this is probably my favourite photo of the year, taken by Gallucks from our Ada + Nik show last January.

Finally, I got to make a few films with the brand including SYN which just won the award for Best Actor at AIFFF! Nice one Duran! This was the performance of the monologue that I wrote with Ada, Barbara Zanditon and Ursa and directed Duran in.

Travel

I woke up on the 1st of January in the ice cold Italian mountains and vowed that 2015 would be full of sunlight, and it really was. Soma Bay in Egypt, Dubai, LA, New York and Toronto during Summer, Athens, Barcelona, Paris three times for work, driving through the German countryside with Mustang were all incredible experiences – and I really cannot wait to share more. The travel has also upped my photography game one hundred fold – so thank you.

Health and Fitness

The last six months of dedication towards grooming and well-being have been super important for me. Being an Equinox Ambassador has massively helped somewhat, but so do midnight sociopath gym sessions at the basement gym in my apartment block. It’s just down to either pyschoticness or balance, but either way I am really happy that it’s working out for me right now and so was OUT magazine when they named me one of their most eligible bachelors and in their OUT 100 list this year.

Oh and THANK FUCK I cut off my man bun, even if it did make it onto Man Bun Monday on Instagram (insert kimoji, reach for carbs).

Charity

Without the health and fitness, it would have made the shirtless sell for my Grooming Adventure in aid of raising money for the Albert Kennedy Trust a little bit harder. I jest. Actually, this was just the more public side of things when it comes to what I’ve been volunteering on this year. The other big part is mentoring creatively underprivileged kids in East London every couple of Fridays. I can’t Snapchat it for you guys exactly, but it’s surreal. I’ve learnt so much from them (they’re between 13 and 18 years old) and we’ve helped them develop so many incredible and inspiring ideas together that some day I will get to share with you too.

We also kept Ada + Nik sustainably intelligent and did two charity brand projects, one for Oceana and one with St Andrews University.

Life Imitating Art and The Yolo-Factor

I guess this ties into everything, the personal style posts, travel, partying and some amazing friends all over the world but I’ve been to spend time with, whether at the top of the CN Tower, my apartment, the Burj in Dubai or online.

But also to adding layers to personal expressionism which I managed to achieve this year through my paintings and signing with Contemporary Collective.

This all feels so lengthy, so I hope you’ll read and bring on 2016. From the boy who just wants to make things that you guys can experience – thank you. X

The post My Best of 2015 appeared first on KIMU.

This photo series, shot with the insanely talented Conor Clinch was created at London’s Inside-Out building, featuring the facade’s tonal structures that complement the selected pieces. It first premiered over on Bullett Magazine.

Make sure to check Fendi’s Twitter and Facebook for some photos from the night itself!

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This week has certainly been rather newsworthy for the LVMH empire. Raf Simons’ sudden departure from Dior has certainly left the ground uneasy, however on a more positive and exciting note, one of the portfolio’s most underrated houses Fendi opened its new headquarters at the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in Rome – first designed in 1937 by architects Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula and Mario Romano.

Fendi’s 450+ staff have actually already been working at the new headquarters for some months now, but it was this week that the official unveil took place along with the opening of the exhibition “Una Nuova Roma. L’Eur e il Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana” starting October 23rd 2015 until March 7th 2016 to celebrate its inauguration.

The exhibition has a strong focus on Italian artwork and has also imported paintings, on loan from New York’s MoMA. Photographers featured include Karl Lagerfeld, Gabriele Basilico, Fabrizio Ferri, Franco Fontana, Andrea Jemolo, Mimmo Jodice, Giulio Pediconi and Hans Christian Schink – and film extracts from Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, Michelangelo Antonioni, Elio Petri, Bernardo Bertolucci.

The photographs above and below of the new Fendi headquarters are all shot by Karl Lagerfeld, of course.

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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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