Nicola Formichetti on The Future of Fashion and SYKY

Nicola Formichetti is one of fashion's most revered creatives. You may know the designer, stylist, editor and creative director for his iconic collaborations with Lady Gaga, and Nick Knight, or his time at the design helms of both Diesel and Mugler, all defined by his punchy, experimental and futuristic aesthetic.

As the newly appointed artistic director for SYKY, the Web 3 fashion platform, Formichetti will be spearheading future projects for the luxury incubator, founded and launched last year by Alice Delahunt.

With the metaverse and digital fashion no longer the trending topics they once were at their peak in 2021-2022, Formichetti will use his broad connections to facilitate collaboration between 'physical' and 'digital' fashion, working towards what SYKY call a 'blended reality'.

This London Fashion Week, SYKY will be landing in the capital for the second time for their event in partnership with the British Fashion Council, a blended reality fashion showcase. This season's featured designers are Taskin Goec and KWK by Kay Kwok.

Here, Formichetti shares his perspective on where he wants to take the industry to next.

SHOWstudio: How has technology and Web3 informed your own approach to fashion over the years?

Nicola Formichetti: I have always been captivated by the potential of the digital space throughout my 25-year fashion career. In my own work, I’ve experimented with this nascent field, incorporating elements of cyberspace, futurism and digital art. I see Web3 as another realm within fashion to play, explore and create. There are such incredible designers out there creating digital fashion, and I want to help nurture these creators through SYKY’s platform.

Is digital fashion the future? Why?

NF: At SYKY, we believe that the future of fashion is a mix of physical, digital, and augmented. The most iconic designers were known for their boundary-pushing and innovation. We see the digital fashion landscape as the next horizon to witness this explosion of artistic and technical creativity, and the work that is being put out there by these mixed-realities artists is evident of this.

Consumers are also craving fresh ways for self-expression online as social media and real life become more and more integrated. I am excited to be working with SYKY which recognises the demand for digital fashion and is cultivating the most extraordinary talent within this ever-growing space.

What plans do you have for SYKY?

NF: We want our designers to be recognised not only in the Web3 and digital communities, but within the greater fashion landscape. We’re working with an incredible community of some of the most brilliant minds like Taskin Goec and we want to bring these new and distinctive perspectives to the forefront of physical and digital luxury fashion. Aside from SYKY Collective’s incredible roster of talent, I’m looking forward to collaborating with some of the world’s most renowned fashion designers, starting with KWK for London Fashion Week, who will be recreating 3 of his most iconic designs previously made for Beyoncé, Björk, and Karol G. We are proud to be representing both emerging and established designers within our SYKY umbrella and feel this diversity provides an unparalleled pool of creative ingenuity.

What makes the SYKY community unique?

NF: SYKY is truly a first of its kind platform that focuses on digital creators in the fashion space. I think the work of the designers within the SYKY Collective is groundbreaking.

There is a shared enthusiasm and belief that the next generation of fashion is a blend of physical, digital and augmented. I believe that when there is such a strong alignment in goals, great things can result; I am proud to be part of a community that supports and empowers one another, while working with the likes of Taskin Goec and KWK, two of the most exciting creators today. This synergy allows us to move the needle across the fashion industry and put these mixed-realities designers on the map.