Joe Boxer, The Lord of Balls, and His Macy’s Take Over: This is Why You Should Know Nick Graham

With every new brand comes a story.  Here at Life, Tailored we tend to focus on young brands, brands just getting their footing, brands who are essentially learning as they go.  While this often makes for some great insight, it can often be a similar story from one to the next.  Then we get new brands who aren’t new to the business.  Brands that are sweeping up everything in their way and making a name for themselves; not only because they are done right, but because they have the years of trial and error behind them.  Brands like this can shape the way we look at menswear, they pave the way for new ideas, and they bring the experience and knowhow with them to kick ass in the long run as well as the present.  One of our favorite new brands recently hit the floors of Macy’s, and while the label is new, the name behind it has a longstanding history of doing it big, and doing it right.  We sat down with Nick Graham, Founder of Joe Boxer and the new label, Nick Graham, to talk fashion, the transition from underwear to menswear, where Nick Graham the label is going, and who Nick really is.  I can tell you firsthand this is one of the most interesting men I have ever met, and we could all learn a hell of a lot from him.

The Start of Nick Graham

After exiting Joe Boxer, Nick had been out of the clothing business for ten years.  For a man who doesn’t plan to retire, and seemingly doesn’t get tired at all, this wasn’t ideal.  There were thoughts of new lines, new projects, new ideas, but nothing was concrete.  Until Nick came across the conundrum of finding a high quality, well-fitting dress shirt that didn’t cost half the normal American’s rent.  He also realized that there hadn’t been a good, successful, broadly marketed menswear brand launched in US departments stores since 1985 when Tommy Hilfiger hit the scene.  At this moment, Nick Graham, the label, was born.

While Nick had plenty of experience and relationships with department stores from his Joe Boxer days, he’ll be the first to tell you that underwear and shirting are far from similar ventures.  Of course, this is the same man who hand-sewed his first 300 plus pairs of boxers in his apartment while starting his first company, so a little challenge was more than welcomed.  “It’s a big change…” Nick explained to me, “You can go pretty wild with underwear… no one really sees it, so you can have fun with it.”  Making shirts that have that same fun feel, but are also office ready is a bigger obstacle to tackle.

The label launched online earlier this year boasting eye-catching patterns, bold prints, and an updated American feel.  This immediately caught the eye of the young and stylish who were looking for premium quality without the premium price tag.  Since the launch the brand has expanded and added plenty of more subtle and refined pieces, giving an overall feel of something Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren-esque, but updated for the modern man.

Nick Graham Takes Over Macy’s, and Gets the FAA’s Attention

When you’ve already created an underwear empire, getting into a department store may not seem like a huge ordeal.  However, Nick Graham doesn’t do subtle.  He doesn’t do understated.  And he definitely doesn’t do quiet.  Nick likes to keep heads turning in the best ways possible, which is why when Nick Graham carved out his spot in Macy’s stores he did it with style, and the help of an entire marching band.

Check out the video below and watch Nick Graham and his entourage kick off a launch like only he could.

Of course his 50 piece marching band isn’t the only thing Nick Graham has made headlines for this year.  The label planned to dress one of America’s most prominent ladies this last Halloween, revealing they were going to create the illusion of placing a bowtie on the Statue of Liberty.  The story was picked up by top news outlets and ran rampant through the internet in days after the announcement, even catching special attention from the FAA and the New York City Parks Department.  Unfortunately weather conditions prohibited the spectacle from taking place and we were all left to wonder what a cross-dressing Lady Liberty would look like, but the thought alone garners a huge round of applause.  We need a more creative side to men’s fashion, and I for one think this is a great place to start.

So I had to ask, what would be next craziness we would see from the wild advertising mind of Nick Graham?  I was promised there are things in the works that can’t be released yet, but Nick also mentioned he would love to shoot some more human cannonballs as part of a fashion show (in his Joe Boxer days he launched a man over a K-Mart in Detroit, we’d like to see a New York version of this).  Nick has been long known as a creative genius, doing wild stunts and acts in the name of publicity– and probably a little just for shits and giggles.  Whether he dons another costume in Times Square, makes headlines for the Secret Service confiscating his fabric, or is buying up royal titles like The Lord of Balls, Nick always seems to find a way to keep a fun spotlight on him.  

What’s Next for Nick Graham?

So where does Nick see his new brand going?  Global.  You can expect to see the Nick Graham line continue to grow here in the US, and overseas in the next several years.  With this expansion we will see a full line, including shirts, ties, suits, jackets, and a whole lot of other wonderfulness that won’t cost you a second mortgage to obtain.  We’re always excited to see new brands grace the world of menswear, and when there is a new brand that is doing it right we love it even more.  Keep your eye out for Nick Graham in the coming months, we have a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot more of both the man and the brand.

Now head over to Nick Graham and checkout the line for yourself.  You won’t be disappointed.