Connor McKnight breathes easier these days.
Earlier this year, the designer sold a stake in his business to The Loyalist, an operating platform that provides services, technology and capital to emerging brands. And that investment has allowed McKnight to focus on what he does best: design. Since branching out on his own, the former Kith and Bode designer has provided a unique take on American culture informed by his Black heritage that ranges from outdoor-inspired pieces and classically tailored coats to sheer, wispy dresses.
This season was no exception. McKnight said fall is a time to hunker down and be more “introspective,” as people “look inward a little bit more.”
That translated into a collection designed to “complement the person rather than trying to cover them up with a crazy look,” he said. Think a long cashmere coat with fabrics sourced from the famous Martin Greenfield custom clothing factory in Brooklyn, traditional trench coats in darker shades, and a nylon M65 bomber that McKnight designed to be longer this season.
But while he was prone to keeping his customers buttoned up, he didn't completely stray from a cropped silhouette, offering it in double-breasted jackets made from a mohair-wool blend and leather jackets with McKnight's signature large pockets on the side. front and an updated moto jacket with patched strap details.
For women, there was a semi-sheer chiffon dress with an endless slit all the way up that closed with buttons and a wispy silk crop top. For the more modest, she also designed a long dress with a drawstring waist and buttons down the front.
Each season, McKnight also creates a hand-painted ensemble and this time, it was a camouflage-patterned jacket and pants created with coffee.
The collection hit all the high notes of the season and now that he can focus more on design and less on logistics and sales, McKnight's star will no doubt shine even brighter in the future.
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