Nick Holiday’s namesake brand is gunning to be remembered as legacy streetwear. With the tagline “unfiltered expression,” Holiday leads with a clear understanding of the classics — boxers, hoodies, tees — but pushes everything a step further under Nick’s wild direction. (You may know the 29-year-old best as a lead stylist for music collective Brockhampton.) Holiday’s most recent drop is a collaboration with LA brand Babylon, featuring scribbled on basics and a campaign starring 100 gecs’ Dylan Brady. Below, Nick chats with fellow streetwear icon Heron Preston and gets shot by a paintball gun, exclusively for PAPER.
(Left) Hoodie: The Singing Knives Vintage, Jeans: Balenciaga, Shoes: Converse (Right) Tank top and boxers: Holiday, Fur: ERL
Heron Preston: Can you share with the world a little bit about your journey? You’re from Missouri — what was it like growing up there, and why did you move to LA?
Nick Holiday: I could look back and talk about the positives or negatives, but I'd rather just believe it was magical for all the different paths it took me through. Like being born on a farm to now living in LA is quite the opposite, and I find myself constantly saying, “I have no business being here.” I moved here probably because, one, it was taboo to some extent; also being obsessed with the idea of fame and Jim Carrey as a kid built this Hollywood fantasy around me. I remember driving around with my mom and asking her which way Hollywood was and she would point in a direction and I would look out that window for the entirety of a car ride. So as delusional as it may be, it’s serving my younger self. Is it my forever home? Absolutely not, but I’m here now and it’s magic.
Heron: Why did you start the Holiday brand and what were some of the first steps you took? Did you have a plan?
Nick: I started Holiday just from being a consumer that desperately wanted to join the race. I was so inspired by the world and I just wanted to have my own world. I didn’t have a plan at all, I started by stealing hoodies from Walmart and drawing on them. So it was run-fast-and-don’t-look-back from step one.
Shirt: The Singing Knives Vintage, Flannel and boxers: Holiday, Pants: Balenciaga, Belt: Helmut Lang (Archive), Shoes: Converse, Hat: Nick's own
Heron: What do you know now about running a brand and working in the industry that you wish you knew when you were first starting out?
Nick: Nothing really. Not to say I haven’t learned a lot. But, I think if I would have known all I know now back then, I probably wouldn’t be where I’m at now. It was (and still is) unknown territory in my family to do anything like what I do, so approaching every day as an opportunity to learn and fail has been a blessing.
Heron: Can you describe your design process from concept to finished product? How do you get to the finish line? Do you have a team?
Nick: For me, it’s all based on feeling and just what are we trying to make, what story am I trying to tell. Sometimes I get so caught up in the world of what we are creating that it’s hard for us to actually make products. But, once that moment and inspirations are all locked in, it’s a very quick process. If I had to break it down, it would look like... One, figure out what I’m trying to say. Then collect references, build the language, color palettes, outfit references — then production execution, creating the actual item. We work with a great team of designers and artists right now, it’s ever-changing and ever-evolving. I love them and they are the future.
Boxers: Holiday, Pants: Balenciaga, Belt: Helmut Lang (Archive), Hat: Nick's own
Heron: Fashion can be a very high-stress environment to work in. How do you personally manage it?
Nick: Remind myself I used to beg for this and spent years hoping I would be in a position where I would be stressed about creating. And this shit is only gonna get naughtier the longer I go, so whatever stress I have now at 29 will be nothing to 45-year-old me, you know?
Heron: What do you think is the most important skill set for a fashion designer to have these days?
Nick: I’m naturally a very insecure person in multiple ways, so I am no poster child of confidence. But, I know the importance of it and the power it has. Confidence, one hundred percent is the answer. Be confident in your ideas — it’s really that simple.
Shirt: The Singing Knives Vintage, Pants: Levi's, Sunglasses: Tom Ford
Heron: Fashion culture is constantly changing and ever-evolving. What have you noticed as being some of the biggest shifts of recent times and how do you adapt?
Nick: I just can’t even attempt to keep up with it, because that’s just a recipe for an unhealthy lifestyle for me, personally. I try to stick to my roots and find myself thinking from the younger self perspective, so I don’t really get caught up in the madness of the tide.
Heron: What’s inspiring you right now and what is your vision for the future of your brand?
Nick: I’m inspired by everything, it’s all magic everywhere. I have my constant inspirations (Shia LaBeouf, Jackass, Fall Out Boy, Sufjan Stevens, Kanye West, nostalgia and nature), but currently inspired by football hooliganism and phone calls a lot. I love chatting on the phone for hours about whatever, and that has been a ritual before I can get creative as of late.
The future of the brand is to build Holiday as a legacy streetwear brand and eventually introduce my next brand (no time soon). For now, I’m focused on Holiday and working with my friends and building a fun world that inspires the next generation of artists.
(On Nick) Shirt: The Singing Knives Vintage, Pants: Levi's, Shoes: Gucci x Adidas
Heron: What do you think the fashion industry is missing?
Nick: I miss when clothes were fun and free (not the price). I just miss the fun aspect of clothes, and people creating and buying things that last in their closets for more than a couple wears. So leaning into that has been my current focus.
Heron: Are you only interested in applying your design and innovation to art and fashion, or are you also interested in applying it to other things? If so, what?
Nick: Furniture would be fun at some point, desks, credenzas, tables — but, honestly, I would love to design scents. I’m obsessed with perfumes and candles. I’ve had my experiences with real stage design before and that was really magical. I want to exist in that space, as well.
Heron: You’ve built a brand for yourself and have a following that really loves what you do. What do you think sets you apart from other brands? What is it about Holiday that people love so much?
Nick: I think the Holiday appreciation comes from the time and effort we spend on each item and world-building. We really love being on our island and surviving. From the cut of our hoodies to the dyes to the presentation, everything is picked and decided by us, which is something I am very fortunate to be able to do. Being in the position to make worlds and stories with clothes has been my ultimate dream, and I think it’s starting to translate.
Being in the position to make worlds and stories with clothes has been my ultimate dream, and I think it’s starting to translate.
Photography: Zamar Velez
Lighting: Lance Williams
Styling: Ty Nieto
Assistance: Tyler Pseudo, Kai Adams
Creative direction: Nick Holiday, Zamar Velez
Related Articles Around the Web
