TIME TO TRAVEL: NIK THAKKAR FOR LOUIS VUITTON

Kilt-wearing, social-media storming, ‘IT boy’, Nik Thakkar is a self-described “multi-platform creative and content creator”. If you haven’t heard of him yet, then get to know…

No doubt you’ll have seen his face in the pages of many a fashion magazine, street-style blog or Instagram post already. With fingers in more creative pies than even the most ambitious of media moguls and boasting an endless scroll of achievements and accomplishments to boot, he couldn’t be better placed in this particular collaboration with luxury label Louis Vuitton.

Louis Vuitton has always been closely linked with the evolution of Air Travel, with luxurious LV emblazoned luggage making just one small portion of the iconic Louis Vuitton collections. Royalty and celebrities alike have long fled from hotel to plane with Louis luggage in tow, and so the long anticipated opening of the brands first European Airside store at Heathrow Terminal 5 today will no doubt come as much welcomed addition to the plethora of other options available to travellers.

If the opportunity to get your hands on a new bag or card case just before take-off isn’t enough to get you through the glossy doors of the new store, then maybe this will – the facade of the store itself will feature a digital art piece by the internationally recognised French artist, Ange Leccia, whose work adorns the walls of everywhere from the Guggenheim to the Pompidou. If that won’t get you through the doors, then quite frankly we don’t know what will! We certainly can’t wait until our next adventure overseas, purely for the chance to explore this new and much needed addition to everyone’s favourite T5.

Despite being even busier than most of The Gentleman’s Journal team combined, we managed to steal Nik away from his ever hectic schedule to talk man-dresses, travel, social-media and of course, Louis Vuitton!

For our readers who don’t know, can you tell us who you are & what you do?, I’ve been working on the creative comms side of fashion for about seven years now, with some high profile brands and individuals – Karl Lagerfeld, LVMH, Gaultier etc., and sometimes when I’m not behind the scenes I’m invited to publicly create concepts for some of these companies either through myself or inspired by my darker artistic vision., I’m also co-creative director of Ada + Nik – we show seasonally at London Collections: Men, I also direct and produce fashion films for various brands and the occasional music video.

How did you first get involved with LV?, The first ever project was actually with LVMH’s Whiskey brand Glenmorangie – I creatively produced a collaboration between them and Philip Michael Wolfson – an architect who I met a year before this. We worked with Todd Selby on the project which was based between London, New York and China. I also worked on the partnership between Diet Coke and Marc Jacobs in 2011/13, and so the relationship continued to grow. Louis Vuitton and I then teamed teamed up on a co-curated guide to the Art of Packing and digital editorial which was published in Interview Magazine last year and we’ve done a few things since. In terms of luxury travel & lifestyle, how do you think LV epitomises this?

I’m going to sound like a purist here but Louis Vuitton is the last standing true luxury brand that is broad enough to offer luxury at every touch point – accessories, ready to wear, luggage etc. They don’t go for the obvious commercial collaborations. LV works with artists and creative visionaries on smaller and more strategic scales. It’s really inspiring in a landscape that is full of promotional noise and high street collaborations.

It feels like everyone else has sold out on the luxury front. From a travel perspective, the monogram has become synonymous with the art of travel. I travel a lot – less than a pop star but I have to carry my own luggage and it is really important for me to be able to walk into a meeting fresh off the runway with something aesthetically suited to me and personalised.

You’re somewhat of a social media/online king – why do you think luxury brands are starting to embrace it now?, Luxury brands actually led the digital revolution from a marketing stand point. They were the first to really find their identities quickly and some brands have really worked out how to position themselves through digital without cheapening themselves. Instagram has helped a lot for luxury brands because you can really communicate luxury better in an image than through text. You’re painting a picture with social, it just happens to be the first place people go to see what you’re about.

Where do you see the future of online going?, It is at a permanent cross section with physical life. The shift of our minds in the digital world versus in the real world (especially in major cities) means that we are all becoming robots.

Tell us about Ada & Nik – how did it start, where is it going?, I have worked with a lot of really inspiring people. For example, when Gaultier put me in a digital campaign for the brand it was this recognition that I was a ‘pseudo industry muse’. The blog, social media, my rather stubborn creative vision and multi-faceted skillset as a content creator all supported this evolution.

I wanted something tangible and unique to work on. Something where I was the end of line decision maker. I sound very self aware when I am saying this I know but you interview well! Ada (Zanditon) and I met four years go in Paris and we worked together on a couple of smaller projects but decided to launch Ada + Nik – a contemporary luxury and rebellious ready-to-wear menswear brand.

Something that complimented both of our creative visions. It started as a capsule collection and has grown substantially over the last year which is awesome. We’ve worked really hard to get it to this place and have much bigger ambitions for it. It is wonderful that brands like Nike. Samsung, Motorola, Philips etc are recognising our vision and choosing to partner with us. We’re continuing to push and break boundaries each season.

Can you give us a little hint of what to expect from your LC:M show?, Haha I can…the name of the collection is Noir Desir. It is taken from the name of a French band, we’re reinforcing our Greco Roman meets British 70s Punk (“GRUNK”) roots and bringing in elements of Russian constructivism and Bahaus. Creative themes are ‘rebellion’ and ‘redemption’. We’ve just shot our AW15 (we do one per season) and collaborated with Haus of Magdalen (an incredible film making duo) which will premiere at the show. It features an installation we created with architect and artist Claire Luxton.

10 QUESTIONS IN 10 MINUTES…

1. The key to packing & travelling well?, Weightlessness and co-ordination.

2. Three things you would never travel without?, I’ve been using a Moto 360 smart watch lately, I have a calf leather bum-bag and a vape pen.

3. Favourite place in the world?, New York.

4. Favourite restaurant?, La Pietra just opened on Peter Street and it is amazing.

5. Best bar in London?, I’m the type or guy that goes to whisky serving dive bars. I like them underground with straight liquor. I like Garlic & Shots in Soho.

6. Best place to shop in the world?, Middle East and Hong Kong but also Antwerp for me personally.

7. Best place to shop in London, Machine A, Selfridges, Hostem.

8. What can’t you live without?, Lana Del Rey.

9. What’s your favourite piece from the Damier Collection?, I love the Damier Graphite Keepall Bandouliere 45 which I customised myself for this project – it’s the perfect size for a weekend away, the gym and can even fit a laptop in perfectly for day-to-day use.

10. What do you think makes a man a gentleman?, I believe in new world leaders, it’s never actually aesthetic. It’s altruism, charity and manners. You can be a gentleman in a kilt or man-dress, a suit should never define you., ,

Styling and Subject: Nik Thakkar in Louis Vuitton AW14 available at Heathrow T5, Photography: Hanna Hillier, Grooming: Nina Fay Robinson, Hotel: The Wellesley,Knightsbridge – thewellesley.co.uk, Special thanks: Simon Olsen and Uber Luxe

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