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Nick Smith (milliner)
Encyclopedia
Nick Smith is a British
milliner, fashion designer and socialite
.
designer or milliner. He is also a designer, socialite, author, recording artist, actor, venture capitalist and philanthropist.
Smith studied fashion design
and technology at the London Institute London College of Fashion
and specialized in accessories and millinery. His millinery company is based out of London
, England
; his central offices are based on Fifth Avenue, New York City
and Liverpool
, England
.
Smith presented his début collection at the Cafe de Paris
during the 2001 London Fashion Week
.
Smith's hats have been stocked at stores around the globe from New York's Bergdorf Goodman
to London's Harrods
, where store owner Mohamed Al Fayed hosted an exclusive soiree to welcome the designer in 2001. He went on to showcase his hats on collaborative catwalks with Scottish design brand Mac Millan during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
(New York), London Fashion Week
and Paris Fashion Week
for nine seasons.
In 2005 Smith presented an environmentally-friendly clothing line at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Los Angeles
using modal
and other organic environmentally friendly fabrics.
In 2006 Smith won the Societas Style Award for designer of the year which recognized his visionary talent of environmental ethical clothing.
2008 fashionspace.com reported that Vogue
announced Smith's return to London Fashion Week with Murder by Millinery, a collection which features vintage Jimmy Choo
shoes worked into bonnets, to raise money for charity and become a touring exhibition after the end of LFW. Smith told Vogue
that "the collection mixes both couture and art". Later this year Smith won the prestigious World Style Award for Accessory Designer of the Year.
2010 Smith launched the “Wonderland” collection in Dallas Texas
. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Smith took the collection on a charitable “Tea Party Tour” of North America to promote the Nick Smith Foundation
.
MUSIC
In 2004, Smith tried his hand at music with a début performance with “Electric Rose” on the catwalk during the 2004 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week.
VENTURES
2007 Smith tried his hand at yet another venture, launching the world’s first organic, dairy free, gourmet designer chocolate: "couture du chocolat" in Selfridges
.
2007 Smith was a Judge of Miss Deaf UK along with Linzi Stoppard
, Liz Fuller
and Bobby Davro
; which was filmed by the BBC
as a fly on the wall three part one hour documentary series.
2008 Smith launched the Nick Smith Foundation
, an American 501(c)(3) non profit charitable organization, striving to assist children and families with chronic diseases through eating disorders.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
milliner, fashion designer and socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
.
Biography
Smith is best known as a hatHat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
designer or milliner. He is also a designer, socialite, author, recording artist, actor, venture capitalist and philanthropist.
Smith studied fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
and technology at the London Institute London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therapy and lifestyle industries...
and specialized in accessories and millinery. His millinery company is based out of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; his central offices are based on Fifth Avenue, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Career
MILLINERYSmith presented his début collection at the Cafe de Paris
Café de Paris
-Establishments:*Café de Paris , West End-Leicester Square-Piccadilly nightclub which, since opening in 1924, has featured Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Gold, Maxine Cooper Gomberg, Ambrose, Harry Roy, Ken "Snakeships" Johnson and many others...
during the 2001 London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week is an apparel trade show held in London, England twice each year, in February and September. It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, along with New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.-Organization:...
.
Smith's hats have been stocked at stores around the globe from New York's Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew Goodman....
to London's Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
, where store owner Mohamed Al Fayed hosted an exclusive soiree to welcome the designer in 2001. He went on to showcase his hats on collaborative catwalks with Scottish design brand Mac Millan during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week can refer to:*New York Fashion Week, also known as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week*Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami, the annual swim fashion week in Miami...
(New York), London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week is an apparel trade show held in London, England twice each year, in February and September. It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, along with New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.-Organization:...
and Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week is a famous fashion week held semi-annually in Paris, France with Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter events held each year. Dates are determined by the French Fashion Federation...
for nine seasons.
In 2005 Smith presented an environmentally-friendly clothing line at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
using modal
Modal (textile)
Modal is a cellulose fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose, often from beech trees. It is about 50% more hygroscopic per unit volume than cotton. It takes dye like cotton and is color-fast when washed in warm water. Modal is a kind of rayon.Textiles made from modal are resistant to...
and other organic environmentally friendly fabrics.
In 2006 Smith won the Societas Style Award for designer of the year which recognized his visionary talent of environmental ethical clothing.
2008 fashionspace.com reported that Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
announced Smith's return to London Fashion Week with Murder by Millinery, a collection which features vintage Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo
Dato' Jimmy Choo, OBE, born Choo Yeang Keat, is a Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is best known for founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its handmade women's shoes....
shoes worked into bonnets, to raise money for charity and become a touring exhibition after the end of LFW. Smith told Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
that "the collection mixes both couture and art". Later this year Smith won the prestigious World Style Award for Accessory Designer of the Year.
2010 Smith launched the “Wonderland” collection in Dallas Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Smith took the collection on a charitable “Tea Party Tour” of North America to promote the Nick Smith Foundation
Nick Smith Foundation
The Nick Smith Foundation was founded by British milliner, socialite, designer, author, recording artist and actor Nick Smith.The Nick Smith Foundation is an American 501 non-profit charitable organization providing information and support to those with eating disorders...
.
MUSIC
In 2004, Smith tried his hand at music with a début performance with “Electric Rose” on the catwalk during the 2004 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week can refer to:*New York Fashion Week, also known as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week*Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami, the annual swim fashion week in Miami...
New York Fashion Week.
VENTURES
2007 Smith tried his hand at yet another venture, launching the world’s first organic, dairy free, gourmet designer chocolate: "couture du chocolat" in Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
.
2007 Smith was a Judge of Miss Deaf UK along with Linzi Stoppard
Linzi Stoppard
-Biography:Linzi Stoppard started taking violin lessons at the age of four. She grew up in Surrey, and was trained under the Suzuki method.At the age of eighteen, Linzi Stoppard signed her first modeling contract, while still teaching and playing session violin...
, Liz Fuller
Liz Fuller
Elizabeth "Liz" Fuller is a British Television presenter, Welsh actress, TV host of ITV Wales The Pop Factory, model and media personality, known for once having owned the British branch of the Miss World franchise...
and Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro is a British actor and comedian. He is mainly known for his work as an impressionist...
; which was filmed by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as a fly on the wall three part one hour documentary series.
2008 Smith launched the Nick Smith Foundation
Nick Smith Foundation
The Nick Smith Foundation was founded by British milliner, socialite, designer, author, recording artist and actor Nick Smith.The Nick Smith Foundation is an American 501 non-profit charitable organization providing information and support to those with eating disorders...
, an American 501(c)(3) non profit charitable organization, striving to assist children and families with chronic diseases through eating disorders.