Ada + Nik SS14 Review
Walking into the conference room of the Saint Martin’s Lane Hotel in London one rainy afternoon, the contrast between the outside world and the swanky, evening soiree feel of Ada + Nik’s SS14 menswear presentation could not have been more stark. With an offer of Snow Queen Vodka (delicious, by the way) we were introduced to the innovative new collection from the design duo. The clothes themselves do not represent a traditional summer menswear collection, with vibrant colour bleached away in favour of more sombre black and white. Although in many respects more reminiscent of a winter collection, summer sensuality is infused into the garments in the form of flesh-exposing slashes and sensual cuts. “I’m such a geek” confessed designer Nik Thakkar. “I’ve always been fascinated by the greek gods and Olympian mythology. We wanted to cross that with a punk vibe.” The historical element shines through in this modern collection, with each item named after a famous classical icon and draped over gladiatorial models. The video created to accompany the collection also evokes the narcissism, eroticism and hermaphroditic sensibility so inherent in the Greco-Roman canon. Interesting and unique twists display the designers creative flair, such as asymmetrical cuts and real human hair formed into tassels – bringing to mind many of John Galliano’s iconic designs. Part of the collection’s brilliance lies in its dual nature, with the garments themselves possessing hidden secrets. A sober white shirt suddenly becomes an erotic statement piece once the jacket is removed and the elegant slash is revealed, exposing the wearer’s back muscles. Although inspired by the ancients, the Ada + Nik SS14 collection is futuristic and provided an injection of modernism to London Collections: MEN – not to mention giving British menswear two more brilliant designers to watch.
Ada + Nik SS14 Video
Ada + Nik Campaign
