STUDIO NICHOLSON SUMMER 26

From May 18 through June 1, Antonia Sant’Andrea hosts a dedicated display and window installation celebrating the new collection by Studio Nicholson. For Summer 26, the brand begins with a precise image: dusty roads, open landscapes, warm wind against the skin. From this geographical and physical sensation emerges a wardrobe shaped by fluidity and purity, principles that reflect the philosophy with which Nick Wakeman founded the brand in 2010. 
The campaign, photographed across the lunar landscapes of Lanzarote, was created by British artist Kingsley Ifill and printed using traditional silver gelatin techniques.
The key fabric of the season is Japanese typewriter cotton: washed, breathable, with an almost paper like texture. The collection also introduces slub linen viscose, defined by its vintage hand feel and irregular construction. “It’s a fantastic fabric for relaxed tailoring. The idea of a material that can create truly spontaneous and special garments is deeply underrated.”
New denim treatments are paired with lightweight, textural dresses featuring sculptural effects, fluid pleating, and resin treated linen finishes.

In conversation with Nick Wakeman, founder and creative force behind the brand.

This is the first time Studio Nicholson has collaborated with Antonia. What made this the right moment and place to create something dedicated to Milan?

Antonia has been an important partner for us for many years, and this project felt like a natural evolution of the relationship. Milan is an extraordinary city, with a highly attentive womenswear clientele that has followed the brand for a long time. It felt natural to create something more considered and refined within the store.

Your campaigns portray real women with a strong and unconventional presence. How has your idea of the “Studio Nicholson woman” evolved over time?

I think the Studio Nicholson woman has evolved alongside the brand. It was never a fixed or defined idea, but rather an attempt to capture the sensibility of real women: their attitude, individuality, and the way they choose to dress for themselves. It is something constantly shifting, which we continue to explore season after season.

You once said, “I like clothes, not fashion,” which is quite a clear distinction. How would you explain it to someone approaching the industry today?

I come from a textile background, so for me everything always begins with fabric: how it feels, how it moves on the body, how it defines the structure of a garment. Fashion can mean many things, but at its purest it is about materials and construction. It is about choosing the right fabric, with the right properties, to make a garment the best it can be.

Looking ahead, is there something you have not yet explored with Studio Nicholson that you would like to pursue?

At its core, Studio Nicholson has always been about building a wardrobe through exceptional fabrics and thoughtfully considered garments. Looking forward, we are exploring how to extend this vision into a broader lifestyle dimension: soft accessories, homeware, and a wider leather goods offering. This year, for example, we launched a collaboration with Japanese textile brand ECHAPPER, a botanically dyed capsule designed for domestic living, a project that felt particularly exciting to me.