Jack Wills names Richard Nicoll as creative director

London Fashion Week designer Richard Nicoll has been appointed creative director of preppy highstreet brand Jack Wills. The Australian-born, London-based Central Saint Martins College of Art graduate, who has just shown his own Autumn/Winter 2014 womenswear collection during LFW,

has been appointed to lead the “next phase” of Jack Wills’ development and has been tasked with developing the business into a “global fashion and accessories brand”.

Jack

Wills chief executive Wendy Becker said: “Richard’s arrival shows how far Jack Wills has come – and indicates our ambition as we grow further.

“His collections have global appeal, but he is a British designer at heart and will lead the creative direction of our brand into its next important phase. His aesthetic and talent in designing for both men and women will be a great match for our future vision for Jack Wills and reinforces our commitment to having quality and design at our heart.”

Richard Nicoll named creative director at Jack Wills

Nicoll, who has previously worked with Topshop and Fred Perry on capsule collections, will join the retailer on a part-time basis, and will showcase his first collection for the brand for spring 2015. He will continue to work on his eponymous line.

Commenting on his new role, Nicoll added: “I’m excited to be working with Jack Wills, this is an opportunity to take a successful British design aesthetic and drive forward the product and vision. Wendy has exciting plans to evolve the Jack Wills brand and I am looking forward to being a part of that.”

Jack Wills is known for its British preppy aesthetic, while Nicoll is renowned for his androgynous aesthetic featuring sleek tailoring and wearable contemporary classics, it will be interesting to see the direction he takes the retailer.

Launched in 1999 in Salcombe, Devon, Jack Wills has become a success story on the highstreet with more than 80 stores around the world. The brand markets itself as 'University Outfitters', inspired by British heritage goods for the university crowd, and has become known for its preppy, quintessentially British style.

Image: Jack Wills SS14