MIKOLAJ SOKOLOWSKI

NEXT GENERATION

Born in Gliwice, Poland, in 1989, Mikolaj Sokolowski moved to Paris to pursue his studies at the prestigious Studio Berçot, graduating in 2013. His student work was highly commended by studio director Marie Rucki. After internships with Nicola Formichetti and Sébastien Peigné at Mugler, he worked as a menswear designer at Balenciaga, before launching his first eponymous capsule collection in 2019. His project is driven by nostalgia for his country of origin. Minimalist and utilitarian silhouettes come in an understated color palette, punctuated with bursts of neon hues.

Anoraks, sweatpants, denim garments and long leather shorts strike a fine balance between references to somewhat rough working-class Eastern European masculinities (similar to those invoked by other designers such as Gosha Rubchinskiy) and refined and understated luxury reminiscent of the early Helmut Lang and Jil Sander. Sokolowski is conscious about the ethics of production: he sources his basic fabrics – such as 100% lama wool, eco leather, organic cotton jersey and denim – from Poland; other materials, including nylon, polyester and double face cotton, are purchased at the Parisian resellers Sentier and come from the stock of big fashion houses. The packaging is made from GOTS-certified cotton; Sokolowski avoids using plastic. The S/S 2021 collection will be shown at the end of September during Paris Fashion Week. www.mikolajsokolowski.com