connor mcknight is a new york based fashion designer.

his work explores themes of the mundane and daily life with the intention of capturing the essence of the times in between. though we are often taken by the extremities of our experiences, he feels that slowness and duration hold a more rich, complex and nuanced story of our lives. he draws connections to the places that we go, people we spend time with and how we feel as it relates to our clothing. the piece that you went on an adventure in. the piece that you fell in love in. the piece that’s always comfortable no matter your mood. the piece that was passed down to you. cm approaches his work autobiographically with the goal of creating these wardrobe staples that stand the test of time and life.

through personal dialogue with his current experience, each collection examines a candid theme of life and reflects what he has been wearing throughout. getting dressed is a universally shared experience that with a unique ability to convey a part of who we are. he feels that there is a lack of nuance in the perception of the black experience, with an expectation that we will adhere to outdated and narrow definitions of our people. by highlighting the times in between, he hopes to portray a more complete idea of our lives.

cm takes a contemporary approach to refinement and luxury juxtaposing classic utilitarian and workwear silhouettes with luxury textiles and craftsmanship. with an interest in crafting clothing that will last for a lifetime, he feels that it is important to find inspiration in references that have already withstood the test of time. as he made the first collection, he sourced workwear, uniforms and tailoring from different eras and different parts of the world, thinking about the best parts of each piece, and combining them to create a curation of functional greatest hits. In the process realizing how, through time, we lost certain aspects of craft. though there is plenty of creativity in the contemporary wardrobe, he would like to find ways that craft and beauty can coexist and be reincorporated into daily life.