Nicholas Kirkwood boosts menswear with LVMH

By

Florent Gilles

Published
Jun 19, 2014

With a spring/summer menswear collection called "Walk", Nicholas Kirkwood appears to be quickening his step. With LVMH as a majority shareholder since last year, the virtuoso shoemaker presented several innovative models in London for his male clientele, for whom he has only designed since 2013. It is in fact only the fourth menswear collection for Maria Luisa’s darling, following a mini-capsule presented in January 2013.

"My male client is the best friend or the boyfriend of my female client!” joked Kirkwood on Monday, June 16 during his London Collections: men presentation. "I wanted to reinterpret the classic derby and the classic loafer, adding touches of silvery technical fabric or metallic, iridescent leather.” A future bestseller, a sandal for brave fashionistos, made its appearance, as did a shoe with a zigzag motif introduced in 2013.

Still based in London, the Nicholas Kirkwood brand (which has three stores in New York, Las Vegas and London) will open several pop-up stores in major cities around the world in the coming months. There is also talk of its first permanent store in Asia opening next year.

Since the acquisition of his company, the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund winner who has been asked to design shoes for Victoria’s Secret shows has nominated his partner Christopher Suarez as CEO. The company, which expanding at a fast pace, welcomed Baptiste Auzéau to the newly created position of CFO a few weeks ago, tasking him with the label’s financial affairs. Finally, a communication manager position was created in-house to oversee international press relations.