Nicola Formichetti wearing pieces from the collection
Tom of Finland x Nicopanda
Nicola Formichetti (pictured) considers himself a Tom of Finland collector. He owns a gigantic Tom of Finland portrait rug that hangs ever so gracefully over his living room, along with several of the artist’s books, clothing and even kitschy coffee mugs. When Formichetti visited the Tom of Finland Foundation House in Echo Park just last year, he “wanted to bring together the world of Nicopanda and Tom of Finland,” seeing it as that both brands function within strict stylistics choices: Nicopanda finds success in the manipulated geometry of fashion and graphic design, where Tom of Finland’s characters have always supported each other’s beefy-builds with classic representational forms.
Featuring sexy phrases like “Come to Daddy” and “City boy,” the collection pays homage to the gregarious nature of gay culture what seem to be less than friendly times.
We love Tom of Finland (perhaps just as much as Formichetti) and wanted to hear more from Formichetti about his thoughts on creating the collection. Have a read below.
ToF has been around for decades, so why create the collection now? I visited the Tom of Finland Foundation in LA last year and felt there was mutual love and admiration, so I wanted to bring together the world of Nicopanda and Tom of Finland thru this collaboration.
Where do fashion and sex meet? Its almost the same thing to me, sex sells. Why cant “gay sex” sell too? It’s time!
Can you tell us about the first time you encountered Tom of Finland? I am a ToF collector — books, clothing, coffee mugs — I even have a gigantic rug hung up in my living room!
How can this collection educate younger generations about the ToF style and message of acceptance beyond just men in leather? Touko Laaksonen used his talent to create a sort of imaginary utopia for himself. He lived in an era where homosexuality was taboo and looked down upon. His commitment to homosexual art helped shift the cultural view and usher in a mainstream acceptance for gay men (and subsequently gay rights movements).
When we interviewed Durk Dehner for Issue 6 and he told us that he felt by continuing on as the custodian of Tom’s work, that he was giving life a greater sense of purpose — how do you see collaborative efforts effecting queer communities? Gay pride is a time of celebration and unity- its the perfect time and place to celebrate Nicopanda’s collaboration with Tom of Finland. We need to unite during these times- bring together all types of people to celebrate great creativity and artwork regardless of gender, sexual preference, or skin color. Participating in pride this year with this project is important to me.
I miss Tank & Bambi… any chance of ToF x Nicopanda doggie collection? Let’s do it!
The slogans on the shirt very dominant and submissive, what’s most important about sexuality in 2017? EQUALITY.
