Whensmokeclears Builds Community Through Fashion

Upon expanding to apparel and collaborating with various artists such as DJ Dick by Air and rapper Cash Cobain, Whensmokeclears has received praise from A-list celebrities and continuously sells out of its products. Their embellished leather pants and button-down tops have been seen on Usher, Fabolous, Fivio Foreign, Swae Lee, Tyga and more.

After moving to Atlanta for four years, K$ace and Thermal are finally back in New York City to take the reigns for the city's fashion heads. This past summer, WSC launched their most recent collection, 1-800-WHENSMOKECLEARS, at MADE x PayPal's cultural fashion event at Brooklyn Bridge Park's boardwalk along the East River. The message behind the 20-piece collection portrays the need for communication as a form of survival. The duo incorporated themes of telecommunication technology such as calling cards, phone cases, harnesses and their signature Radiant Heart logo and World Boss Pants.

That viral moment (one of many for them), inevitably caused for a high demand in a re-launch after quickly selling out on some of the 1-800-WHENSMOKECLEARS pieces. Since then, WSC has frequently posted teaser looks and slowly releasing a few pieces at a time. After a long-awaited journey, K$ace and Thermal got a new showroom and are anticipated to drop a new collection at the end of March.

How’s everything going since returning to NYC?

Thermal - We just got an office. We were based in Atlanta for four years. It feels good to fully be back in New York and our neighborhood where we started. It’s kind of nostalgic and surreal at the same time. Things began to change in Atlanta. Our main supporters were YSL members and we used to hang out with them all the time. When all of that legal shit happened to them, it hurt and fucked us up.

Why do you call your brand Uptown Couture?

Thermal - The brand is in proximity to everything that we represent–we’re from Harlem and the Bronx.

K$ace - We also wanted to steer away from everybody thinking we’re from Atlanta. There’s a misconception because we were so heavy in the A that people thought we were from there. We had to bring it back to our roots.

A lot of celebrities have been wearing your clothes. What’s the feedback been like from some of these A-listers?

Thermal - When we make our clothes, we don’t take shortcuts. It’s not a big jump for people who are used to European fashion and luxury fashion houses. For example, Usher was recently at the Louis Vuitton show in a full Louis Vuitton outfit. He then returned to his Las Vegas home and put Whensmokeclears on right after. It didn’t seem too few and far in between. We’re happy to see people perceiving the brand as we do. It’s uptown and it’s couture.

You’re very tapped into the rap scene, which is also why people probably think you’re from Atlanta. How has that tied in with the success of your brand so far?

K$ace - We’re affiliated with a bunch of big artists, but also tapped in with the younger generation of drill music. I think people look at the clothes as more of an upscale brand. Us being in that bracket helps a lot in that sense.

Thermal - The idea of a musician’s wardrobe is in line with what musicians are inspired by – that usually comes from street culture and the persona that a lot of these musicians are trying to create. We meet at that place where it feels right every time they look at our clothes.

We want to invite people to experience New York.

You have a strong use of flags and cultural representation throughout your designs. Why do you use these designs?

Thermal - We’ve been doing this for about seven years; from the beginning. The flags represent unity in which we believe in and what we want to be on the forefront of why we’re making clothes. Fashion definitely brings people together…especially in New York. People have made friends over certain outfits and shoes. There’s a unity that comes with just being yourself. I think the flags are a representation of how that can be as micro as a New York community or global existing on one piece of clothing.

As you grow as designers, it seems like a lot of your designs have elevated. Tell me about the evolution of your brand and where you think it’s going.

Thermal - We started with a necklace, and that snowballed into the full Whensmokeclears look. When we chose this specific textile story, we kept landing on leather because it feels long-lasting and that’s what our brand is.

K$ace - We want it to be like rockstar luxury. We want people to wear these pants every day.

What do you think makes you guys different from other brands?

Thermal - Everything.

K$ace - Just look at us… I’m kidding!

Thermal - I think that the path we chose to get to where we are now is very different. We look at the brand as a documentary and we are the characters in it and we’re just building this brand before people’s eyes. I think that’s why a lot of people gravitate towards it because we started from nothing and turned it into something by visiting all of these countries and spreading the word. A lot of it has to do with nightlife, which is where me and K$ace met–so shoutout to nightlife.

K$ace - When people see us outside and in that environment, they really start to understand where we come from and that it’s not just a brand, but a lifestyle–from the things that we eat to the way that we speak.

Fashion

Timberland and Veneda Carter Reimagine Classics with Bold Metallics

November 23, 2024

Veneda Carter teams up with Timberland once again, bringing a fresh edge to archival designs in their latest capsule collection. Highlight pieces include towering lace-up boots in electric blue and silver, alongside a sleek reinvention of Timberland’s iconic 6-Inch boot, both crafted with patent leather and recycled materials.

The collection also introduces rugged, versatile outerwear like oversized parkas, utility vests, and a statement boiler suit, all built for layering and durability. Inspired by industrial design and early 2000s fashion, Carter infuses each piece with a contemporary energy that feels both striking and wearable.

The collection is now available and can be found at flagship Timberland stores, online, and select retailers worldwide..

By Enzo Holdt
Photography courtesy of Timberland

Fashion

ECCO.kollektive collaborates with Louis-Gabriel Nouchi

November 21, 2024

ECCO.kollektive has teamed up with Paris-based designer Louis-Gabriel Nouchi for a bold and innovative Spring/Summer 2025 collection. Known for his thoughtful exploration of masculinity and storytelling in fashion, Nouchi brings his unique perspective to this collaboration, blending his modern aesthetic with ECCO’s skill in craftsmanship and material innovation.

The collection features a range of footwear, clothing, and accessories, each designed with attention to detail. The collection uses a mix of black, deep red, and pearl white. Sensual touches, like Nouchi’s signature slits, combine with structured tailoring and flowing shapes, showing how the designer blends bold and refined styles.

We spoke with Louis-Gabriel Nouchi about the collection and his inspiration. From the textures of the human body to his love for stretch leather, Nouchi shared how the collaboration allowed to experiment with new ideas.

By Enzo Holdt
Photography by courtesy of ECCO.kollektive x LGN

The collection debuted at Paris Fashion Week and draws inspiration from the textures of the human body. “The idea came from the textures of skin,” Nouchi explains. “I wanted to create something sensual and fluid, using leather in a way that felt both strong and soft. Leather has this amazing quality—it can feel like armor, but also like a second skin.”

Nouchi worked closely with ECCO to develop designs that showcase the versatility of their materials. High-shine biker nappa leather with a waxy finish appears in tailored separates like a single-breasted blazer, trousers, and long-line shorts. For a more experimental edge, he created a column dress and a pencil skirt using strips of leather embroidered onto stretchy tulle—a design he says was inspired by his younger self. “When I was young, I was obsessed with stretch leather because of designers like Jean-Claude Jitrois. It’s something I wanted to explore and bring into this collection, almost like fulfilling a dream for my past self.”

Footwear is another major highlight, featuring Derby shoes, Helsinki loafers, and the standout Truck Lace loafer with a bold platform. The shoe’s futuristic design draws from Nouchi’s fascination with brutalism and technology. “It might be a bit controversial,” he says, laughing, “but I really like the Tesla Cybertruck. The sharp, angular lines and futuristic look combined with that raw, brutalist vibe—it’s something that resonates with me. The platform on the Truck Lace loafer feels like a nod to that kind of design.”

Another unique detail is the inclusion of removable coins on some of the shoes, adding a playful yet personal touch. “You can take the coins off—it becomes almost like a lucky charm,” Nouchi says. “It’s one of those small details that make the pieces feel more connected to the wearer.”

Louis-Gabriel Nouchi’s signature slit motif, which adds subtle hints of reveal and concealment, runs throughout the collection. “The slit is about teasing the eye,” he explains. “It’s never about revealing too much—it’s about creating tension, a little mystery.” This motif appears on everything from loafers to hems, blending seamlessly with the collection's sensual yet structured aesthetic.

When asked about the versatility of his designs, Nouchi emphasizes their adaptability to different occasions. “You can wear these pieces in super casual situations on the street, looking super chic at night—super sexy,” he says. “From one garment, you can style it in so many ways during the day. For example, the tank top—you can wear it with pants, or without. It’s super hot, super cool, and it works for so many moments.”

For Nouchi, the collaboration with ECCO was as much about innovation as it was about creative freedom. “There are no limits with ECCO,” he says. “As a designer obsessed with materials, having the freedom to push development this far was an amazing opportunity. Fashion, for me, is like a laboratory. It’s about testing ideas and seeing how far we can take them.”

The ECCO.kollektive x Louis-Gabriel Nouchi collection is available now, combining high-quality craftsmanship with bold, modern design that showcases Nouchi’s vision and ECCO’s craftsmanship.