“Buy less, but better.” That’s the code menswear designer Kai D. Fan, better known as simply Kai D, operates by. His vintage clothes are designed to emulate styles from fifty years to nearly a century ago, all while holding their own test of time with their durable construction and fine materials. The emphasis is on quality, but where Kai D.’s line really shines is in the detail.

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In times like these with a recession looming and hopes of mending what’s been torn to pieces, a question always remains. In every interview, every casual conversation, someone just has to know: Why fashion? People don’t just buy couture when they’ve lost their jobs. A pair of Chanel shoes are replaced with paying rent. So, why fashion? For designers like LaQuan Smith, fashion isn’t a choice, it’s a calling.

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Nasty.
The word is usually an insult when used to describe a person (aside from a really good freestyle rapper, of course). But designer Mark McNairy wears it as a badge of honor. In fact, McNasty is his self-given nickname, and to say it has stuck is an understatement. It’s on his clothes, on his hats…it’s even spelled out in three-foot tall letters in his closet. His peers and anyone who’s been lucky enough to interview him will quickly tell you that he isn’t the friendliest guy in the world. If you see him in a photo or in person, there’s a good chance he isn’t smiling, or you’re getting a bird that doesn’t come with wings. You could say this explains the name. Still, there’s another reason why “Nasty” is so fitting to this man, and it’s not just because he seems cold as ice. It might just be because of his skills.

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