Remembering fashion designer and friend Richard Nicoll, 1977–2016

The Australian fashion designer Richard Nicoll has died at the age of 39.
Nicoll – who was based in London for much of his career – was a stalwart of the London fashion community. After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2002, he created designs for a number of esteemed houses (Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs among them), worked as creative director at Cerruti Paris and was a frequent exhibitor at London Fashion Week for almost a decade.
His practice was multifaceted, also encompassing collaged graphic works with artist Linder Sterling from A/W 2009 onwards, a 2012 bridal range for Topshop and S/S 2015 collaborations with Sweaty Betty and Disney.
He closed his eponymous label in 2015 to start the next chapter of his career as creative director at Jack Wills, a position he left earlier this year, returning to Australia to work on a number of projects. He had recently accepted the job of creative director at Adidas in Germany, which was due to commence in January 2017.
In 2015, Nicoll contributed to Wallpaper* Handmade, creating a pair of globe-shaped, Bohemian-style decanters with Czech glass masters Moser. Earlier this year, he created a futuristic reflective dress, conceived to offset Philippe Rahm's 'Spectral Light' in our W* Design Awards 'Best Bright Ideas' photo shoot (W*203).
Wallpaper's thoughts are with all his friends and family.
Earlier this year, he created a futuristic reflective dress, conceived to offset Philippe Rahm’s ’Spectral Light’ in our W* Design Awards ’Best Bright Ideas’ photo shoot.
For Wallpaper* Handmade last year, Nicoll ventured beyond the fashion realm with luxury glass manufacturer Moser. He delved into the archives of the Czech brand to design these globe-shaped decanters, inspired by the brand’s hundreds of floral patterns.
For his brand’s tenth birthday and spring/summer 2014 collection, the designer offered a rose-coloured view of the future with his diaphanous pastel-pink layers mimicking the show’s bubble-gum hued benches, scooping a 2014 Wallpaper* Design Award for his efforts.
His practice was multifaceted, encompassing a number of collaborations including with activewear company Sweaty Betty (pictured, for his S/S 2015 womenswear offering).
Nicoll jumped right into the sporting swing of things for S/S 2015.
Nicoll’s menswear collections sway between almost jailbird uniformity and opulent dandyism – his S/S 2015 offering struck a happy balance between the two.
’Easy opulence’, ’textured simplicity’ and ’modernist romance’ were the attractive contradictions that the designers threw about for his A/W 2014 presentation.
At London Collections: Men A/W 2014, Nicoll demonstrated a punchy bravado that was a departure from previous shows.
Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry’s leading figures and brands.
-
Will Apple Vision Pro usher in a new world of spatial computing?
All eyes are on Apple’s first foray into augmented reality. Apple Vision Pro promises to bring us a new world of work and play
By Jonathan Bell • Published
-
Serpentine Pavilion 2023 invites everyone to the table
The Serpentine Pavilion 2023 launches to a design by Lina Ghotmeh, whose installation 'À table,' is an invitation to togetherness
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal pieces
A host of jewellers have given us a peek at the jewellery which has brought them solace this year
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
In memoriam: Vivienne Westwood (1941 – 2022)
We remember iconoclastic British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who has died aged 81
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Remembering Virgil Abloh: 1980–2021
We remember creative pioneer and innovator Virgil Abloh, who has passed away at age 41
By Laura Hawkins • Last updated
-
In memoriam: Kenzo Takada (1939–2020)
The Japanese fashion designer has passed away aged 81
By Laura Hawkins • Last updated
-
In memoriam: Sophia Kokosalaki (1972-2019)
By Laura Hawkins • Last updated
-
In memoriam: Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019)
By Laura Hawkins • Published
-
Jony Ive remembers Azzedine Alaïa
By Jack Moss • Last updated
-
In memoriam: the cinematic life of fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy (1927-2018)
By Laura Hawkins • Last updated
-
In memoriam: the life and influence of Judy Blame (1960-2018)
By Elly Parsons • Last updated