If it was difficult to conjure feelings of hope back in February, it can seem almost impossible now. In the U.S., after facing a pandemic, multiple killings of unarmed Black people at the hands of the police, and the potential re-election of a climate change denier, many of us are reeling.
Thank goodness for Kenneth Nicholson. His fall 2020 collection, which was shown at New York Fashion Week Men’s, revolved around the themes of nostalgia, joy, grace, and beauty in the face of opposition. Over the last few months Nicholson has taken time to reflect on how far he and his namesake brand have come since launching in 2016. Instead of creating a full spring 2021 collection he wrote, produced, and co-directed with Stefan Coleson a film titled Grasp that showcases a few new designs along with past favorites, including some from his retro-tinged fall 2020 collection “From Grandma’s Couch.”
The narrative follows a man who dreams the same thing over and over again and sees the imagery in his day-to-day life. It’s a conceptual Groundhog Day-type film that presents themes ranging from toxic masculinity to the importance of art to the necessity of holding onto one’s own aspirations. “When everything in fashion was going virtual, I didn’t want to do in a virtual format what we could experience in reality,” says Nicholson. “The character is a thinker and his view of the world is his own. He moves through his space and through the world observing and seeing beauty in everything.”
There seems to be similarities between the lead character and Nicholson himself. “This is a transitional period for me right now,” Nicholson explains. “Up until this point, my place in fashion has been really introductory, but I’m stepping into a new, more public space. I’m ready to open up next year with a new direction.”
Watch the film here.