JW: Where were you born, and how does that affect your surfing and work?
NC: I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Being from LA has definitely shaped who I am as well as my interests beyond being a surfer. It’s a large, forward, and multicultural coastal city that’s made up of a lot of different scenes and subcultures. I’d say it forces a more unique point of view on surfing as a whole because it’s adjacent to so many other industries and worlds that most small beach towns are almost always removed from. 

JW: What do you want to create with your NC Designs label?
NC: I’d like to keep it this collaborative outlet that’s always experimenting with new ways and techniques on how to create forward but wearable quality products. A place and a product that helps musicians, artists, surfers, skaters, photographers, designers, filmmakers, etc. feel themselves at home or traveling from place to place.

JW: Does your clothing design draw inspiration from surfing, or does surfing influence your approach to designing clothing?
NC: I’d say that they go pretty hand in hand. Most of the clothes that I enjoy making are inspired by similar eras and the style references are around the same time as some of my favorite surf films that were being made in the 80s and 90s. These films were what first got me hooked on surfing and feel most nostalgic. It was also a time when there was a lot of raw progression in the art and music scene in places like NYC and I like looking back to what my favorite designers were doing around this time as well. I like to taking bits and pieces from what was going on back then and give them a bit of an updated feel. Kind of similar to the boards that I like to ride. They have elements of boards that were ridden in the 80s and early 90s, but they are a little bit more refined, making them a modern version of what was traditionally ridden back then.  

JW: How would you characterize your style, and what significance does style hold for you?
NC: I’m not really sure how to characterize my own style, but I am often inspired by a lot of different things all at once. I think it’s just how anyone (or myself in this case) can reference different genres, eras, products, and details to make their own version of a combination of things that authentically feel and look true to them. Everything feels as if it’s been done before, it’s how you can evolve a mix of things that reflect who you are.

JW: What excites you about joining the July Wetsuits project?
NC: I’m excited to work with July because in a time of budget cuts and most brands in the industry cutting corners on the product that they put out July has made it their mission to only put out the highest quality products possible. They have a strong Identity as well as the team of individuals behind them.