We’ve moved O BOY to Substack! This is what to expect: a surprise and delight.
We’ve entered a new chapter of O BOY. We used to be solely a newsletter, but have now joined the world of Substack, and with this new format, we can get more creative. We will show you a behind-the-scenes look into the brand that you won’t find anywhere else: design inspiration, photoshoots, styling tips (including other brands our founder Nikki Kule loves), and a preview of new products before they launch. We will include bits and bobs of what we are thinking and inspired by, as well as the happenings from the past week. Another taste of what to expect will be a small window into Nikki’s world (her homes, closet, art, travel, etc.). You will also have special VIP access to events, sales, and launches, and the best part is that there is no paywall; subscribing is free 🙂
The KULE world of Terry began several years ago, and it quickly became a customer favorite for spring and summer. Its versatility—from the beach to the bar—makes it also fun to dress up or down, always adding a classic, sporty element to your warm-weather outfits. And as a material with a French flair (“terry” derives from the French word “tirer,” referencing the pile loops of the material), it also happens to mix in perfectly with our stripes. Grab a towel and let’s dive in.
This Holiday Season, we brought on our friends at Underwater Weaving to transform our Rockefeller Center windows into a basket wonderland. Erin Pollard, the founder of Underwater Weaving, was the artist behind the beautiful cascade of one-of-a-kind hand-woven baskets adorned with ribbons, garland, and, of course, stripes. To celebrate the store’s holiday transformation, we hosted an Après Ski-themed party with friends, bites (including baskets of crudités for the reindeer), and bubbles. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Erin to hear from the magician behind the magic herself 🧺🪄
Nikki Kule and Erin Pollard at KULE Rockefeller Center celebrating our new Underwater Weaving holiday windows 🧺
KULE: What made you start Underwater Weaving? How long has it now been around?
Erin Pollard of Underwater Weaving: Two years ago, after almost 20 years of working in fashion publishing (magazines), I began hosting workshops and beginner basket weaving circles, instructing a particular kind of stake and strand technique with rattan materials. In the basket style I teach, the weaver makes a vessel from scratch, building an entire artifact from start to finish. My urge to begin teaching after only making baskets for just over a year was admittedly premature (though my mother was a weaver 35 years ago– I self-taught much of what I knew when I started). But, I felt an unshakable desire to gather people around the craft, which felt novel in the capital of high-functioning productivity: New York. When my first gathering had over 80 weavers, my intuition was confirmed: Teaching basket weaving can offer me and others a tangible purpose. I officially started the company a year ago.
Erin at work (in the KULE Sam vest) weaving the baskets for the installation on the left, bringing the fixings for set up at KULE Rockefeller Center in the middle, and installing her creations on the right.
EP: The Underwater Weaving Club is a subscription to a basket weaving kit. Members receive bi-monthly original projects, access to video, and discounts, and they are the first to learn about our workshops and events, which are primarily hosted on the East Coast, but we are expanding. Many club members also join with friends so that they can host their gatherings and make baskets with their friends.
All in the details 🧺 This installation is putting our neighbors, Saks and Bergdorfs, up for a challenge 😉
KULE: You surround yourself with many amazing women (our party is proof of that!). I know you also work with one: your mother. How did your mom and your professional partnership begin?
EP: In the ’90s, my mother Peggy taught basket weaving workshops, sold her baskets at her craft store, and made a basket called “the New England woven tote” for L.L. Bean! Soon after launching Underwater Weaving, I presented some of my baskets at the Maria McManus Spring 2024 runway presentation. I had positioned the baskets as art until then, but The Runway called ;). When a large retailer showed interest in the work, I asked my mother if she would come out of her 35-year retirement to help me produce my ideas.
Underwater Weaving celebration and window unveiling at KULE Rockefeller Center. After an evening of mingling and enjoying Lillet cocktails as one should at an Après Ski party, they went home with an Underwater Weaving club kit (including that little UWW basket ornament Nikki’s wearing as a necklace and the custom KULE basket socks).
KULE: What’s next for Underwater Weaving? Perhaps expanding into window dressing since you’re so good at it?
EP: Ah! I do love dressing windows… but yes, we’re exploring and expanding in all areas. I envision more beautiful collaborations with fashion, bridal, and home categories. I’d like to develop the workshops into different verticals so that people can gather with their friends for a birthday party or a brand can engage their audience to slow down and gather meaningfully around the craft. I’d love to work with medical and rehabilitation centers so that basket weaving can be used to help people. There is endless potential in design as well. We will start selling our work on some preeminent platforms soon, and I’m excited to work more closely with many industries on custom pieces.
Okay, I have a lot of work to do. Thank you for featuring me in O BOY 🙂
Nikki Kule is–as they say–a born and bred native New Yorker. She is the person to go to for the best recommendations in the city, specifically when it comes to shopping (both fashion and design, which she has a fantastic eye for), dining (restaurants that are both tried and true and new), and art, which she is both an observer and collector of. In honor of our Fall Collection, an homage to all things New York, we compiled Nikki’s Guide to NYC.
We must start with Bergdorf Goodman, a giant specialty store with unique pieces, from home to accessories, that you won’t find anywhere else. Check out her favorite stops: the makeup and shoe departments. Nikki has memories of dressing room try-ons with her mom at Bergdorf Goodman. Check out The Heirloomist: 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell, by photographer Shana Novak, which includes a photo of Nikki’s mom’s vintage BG card she’s held on to all these years. KULE also collaborated with Bergdorf Goodman twice! You can still get your hands onthe last few pieces.
Not far from Bergdorf Goodman, just south on Fifth Avenue, is Rockefeller Center. It’s a must-visit, with its uptick of great brands. Specifically, the KULE store 😉 right on the concourse, where you can try our pants, sweaters, tees, and outerwear, stop by the Sock Bar, and take a selfie in the mirror. You can also shop the most iconic New York statements. A little tidbit of something you probably do not know, but aside from Nikki’s father being “The King of Pants,” he also founded a bagel shop in the 1970s on the Upper West Side and the Garment District—something to nosh on 🥯
The Oversized New York City Sweatshirt
The Modern Long Bagel
The Central Park Kap
The Oversized Pretzel Sweatshirt
The Big Apple Socks
The Modern Brooklyn
The Bagel Sock
The Pretzel Kap
The Oversized Bagel Sweatshirt
Nikki likes to shop in specialty stores rather than mega-brands to find items you won’t see elsewhere. On the Upper East Side is Ludivine, a luxury women’s boutique that offers a curated selection of international and domestic designers. She finds something every season.
Then swing down to Dover Street Market, which Nikki recently visited and highly recommends you check out this fall. It showcases high-end clothing with impressive artistic displays and many brands you won’t find at other stores—seven full floors of fun.
Downtown in the NoLiTa area is Oroboro, a small and delightful womenswear boutique featuring rare and emerging designers and fun and unusual home objects. A few steps down Mott Street is Westerlind, which Nikki loves because of its cool outdoorsy gear from different brands. No 6. Store sits on a Little Italy side street. They sell pieces from their group of curated vintage and European designer shoes, apparel, and accessories.
In TriBeCa is La Garçonne. It’s a loft-like shop where you’ll find many hard-to-find brands, both classic and unique. Their curation is thoughtful, displayed in a gallery-like brick-and-mortar space. Make plenty of time for this stop.
The Shopping: Design
Nikki loves designing interiors. You should see her mood boards! Nickey Kehoe is her favorite store from Los Angeles, now in downtown NYC. Some of her favorites from the store are the textiles, wallpapers, small home kitchenware, and lighting fixtures.
On the left is Nikki’s fabric and lighting selection while at Nickey Kehoe, and on the right is it put together in her home
Also Downtown is BDDW, which she likes specifically for ceramics, art, and unusual furniture. They also sell some cool clothing. You could spend a whole day at John Derian in the East Village. Their textiles are a highlight (go there if you’re looking for a throw blanket or bedding), but the knickknacks are not to be missed.
The Invisible Collection is a beautiful townhouse on the Upper East Side that is always fun to visit. It offers a fresh take on classics and a place to discover new design ideas.
Art
Nikki loves visiting her favorite galleries frequently, whether you’re just browsing or buying. Her favorite galleries uptown are Skarsdadt, Turn Gallery, Neue Gallery, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and Lévy Gorvy. Turn Gallery, owned by Annika Petersen, shows established and emerging artists. Annika has such an eye for talent. Nikki says she tends to follow the artists she finds at Turn Gallery, such as Karon Lyons and Andy Mister. Lévy Gorvy is another one of her favorites. It has creative and incredible installations, and the building’s architecture is worth seeing, too.
This weekend, Nikki visited Galleria Mattia De Luca Uptown to see a Giorgio Morandi exhibit. It has one of the largest Morandi collections on display. The exhibit is by appointment only, so make a reservation!
Many good galleries are further downtown, especially Gladstone Gallery, Pace, and Harper Books. She notes that she often uses the SEE SAW App for gallery showings (not only in NYC but also in major cities around the world).
Dining
The food in NYC is unparalleled, and of course, Nikki has her favorites. As a big Italian food lover (as evidenced below), she looks for comfort and great, authentic food. New York does this best 🙂
One of her local Uptown favorites is Sette Mezzo. It never disappoints. For fine dining, Le Bernardinis an exceptional place for birthday celebrations.
Downtown, there are many picks. I Sodi is a tough table to get, but it serves some of the best meals. Raf’s on Elizabeth Street has the charm of an old-world bistro. It is a homey and fun. She also loves Il Cantinori and has been going there forever. It’s a New York staple. Houseman is Nikki’s old neighborhood go-to. They have an amazing burger (Nikki doesn’t eat meat now but still thinks of it often). And try the pickles!
Our latest collection was inspired by a trip Nikki took to the South of France last summer. The colors, landscape, and quaint interiors all got her creative juices flowing. The collection is an homage to the towns of Saint Paul de Vence, Saint-Raphaël, and Saint-Tropez. Let’s take a trip together, shall we?
A collection takes over a year to come to fruition. The idea for what you now see was conceived a year ago! Every piece is infused with specific memories and details from Nikki’s inspiring trip.
She even Pantone-matched some of the collection’s colors to photos she took, like the above green car, which is “Sweet Pea” green, used in some of our silks, sweaters, and tees.
The Silk Ponza
The Silk Reine
The Matey
The Gio
The Wynn Baby Tee
The bronze hues were inspired by details in architecture, folliage, and handmade pottery.
On the streets of Vaugines, France
A little corner at Hotel Lourmarin
La Petite Vigne, a wine cellar in Saint Paul de Vence
Nikki visited small towns throughout France. The rustic interiors and authentic touches to everything—from restaurants to markets to the food itself—were so picturesque that it felt like it was straight from a postcard. She walked away inspired by the colors, flavors, and smells.
Inside at Colombe d’Or
Fresh bread at Colombe d’Or
A little market in Lourmarin
The Modern Holiday
The Kiki
The Modern Bonjour
The Kiki
The Modern Merci
The collection is meant to evoke this quality and charm through the colors, silhouettes, and materials. Think of a silk striped dress with a cotton knit thrown over your shoulders as you go to the market to grab fresh bread and cheese.
This Memorial Day Weekend, Nikki traveled to the U.K. The trip was filled with friends, art, good food, shopping, and relaxation. Ride along for the highlights!
For the first time, Nikki decided to take an international day flight instead of an overnight one, and it was a game-changer. The advantage of landing in the evening and having a comfortable hotel room ready for a good night’s sleep was a refreshing start for the first day of touring!
She walked many miles in these 🙂 (these are really good too!)
Tatum Sweater
Quinn Shirt
Nelson Blazer
Oxford Pants (coming soon!)
The Row Jelly Shoes
On the first day in London, Nikki saw friend and artist Tanya Ling‘s show at the Ronchini Gallery. Afterward, Tanya Invited Nikki to the Chelsea Arts Club. Seeing the authentic, quirky people of the London Art Scene was fun. Nikki also had the privilege of visiting Tayna at her gallery and saw some current paintings in the works 👀
As for restaurants, The Wolseley is always a favorite, as is J Sheekey and, of course, Indian food. Nikki went to a newer one called Trishna near Chiltern Firehouse and highly recommends it. You know the food and drinks are good when you forget to take photos 🤪
Nikki and her husband then took a few days in the countryside in the Cotswolds at the Soho Farmhouse. It was a very chill few days of eating, drinking, riding bikes, and even a milk truck! The shop there is also cute, with a bunch of small brands.
