Daley styles acts for events, concerts and awards shows. For their part, the musicians soundtrack his runway shows, model in his lookbooks, and are, collectively, his muse. (The “Yussef” jacket is named after drummer Yussef Dayes.)
Because of his relationship to music, VOGUE has compared Daley to Emily Bode, whose runway shows feature her friends’ rock bands, and to Grace Wales Bonner, a fellow jazz supporter and fashion show concert-thrower. But a key difference is Daley’s consistent involvement with a specific scene–which again goes right back to his parents’ example.
Because of his relationship to music, VOGUE has compared Daley to Emily Bode, whose runway shows feature her friends’ rock bands, and to Grace Wales Bonner, a fellow jazz supporter and fashion show concert-thrower. But a key difference is Daley’s consistent involvement with a specific scene–which again goes right back to his parents’ example.
From 1972-82, the elder Daleys Jeffery and Maureen operated a reggae venue in the Scottish Midlands, with an ethos “about just looking at different cultures and having that space for exchange.” Bands would travel to Reggae Klub and then stay the night at the family flat. The music made an impression on Daley, as did his parents’ commitment to nurture a scene.
Now Daley does the same thing in London, supporting the overlapping circles of jazz and hip-hop. Acts including Cosmo Pyke, Mansur Brown, Obongjayar, Alfa Mist, Shabaka Hutchings, Sons of Kemet, and Yussef Kamaal all wear his clothes. Daley is part of their loose community that works individually and in groups, which critics routinely describe as “cosmic.”
Obsession-worthy menswear is why we’re chatting with Nicholas Daley, one morning outside his Paris showroom. From his relaxed tartan mohair trousers to his wide-collar button-up sweaters, everything Daley makes is sturdy, cozy, and put-together–a rare combination.
But he keeps turning back to music. The true center of his universe.
“A Nicholas Daley runway show is like a music gig,” he says. “There’s a literal concert, and I’ve got my friends from NTS Radio there, and the GQ guys, who wouldn’t normally be together. I want it to be a mix.”
If his brand were a DJ set, Daley’s record crate would be stuffed with linens from Ireland, indigo dye from Japan, and plaids from the Glenisla Knit Factory in Scotland. His London-based, made-in-the-UK brand is all about inclusivity–a mindset he got from his parents.
