It's
lavish.
Sometimes
outrageous.
Often
boundary-breaking.
And
always
intriguing
and
a
global
sensation.
New
York
Fashion
Week
is
the
calling
card
for
designers,
buyers,
celebrities,
media
and
just
about
everyone
trying
to
break
into
this
mega-million-dollar
industry.
Amid
the
flashing
cameras,
Insta-posts
and
trendy
after-parties
that
vaunt
the
swank
vibe
of
a
New
York
state
of
mind
comes
a
little
Midwest
-
a
designer
whose
quiet
confidence
is
reflected
in
his
collections
that
are
a
bit
more
understated,
classic,
on-point
for
comfort,
stylish
and
modern.
BW
alumnus
William
McNicol
'09
has
earned
the
coveted
"one
to
watch"
interest
of
the
press,
buyers
and
customers.
The
BW
finance
and
management
major,
whose
near-perfect
GPA
aptly
reflects
his
focus
on
hard
work,
diligence
and
vision
for
success,
is
making
his
second
appearance
at
New
York
Fashion
Week,
Feb.
11-16.
The
impressive
achievement
takes
on
added
appreciation
-
considering
this
started
out
as
a
side
gig
to
his
full-time
job
as
a
medical
underwriter
for
New
York
Life
Insurance
Company.
The
Cleveland
Heights,
Ohio,
resident
balances
both
full-time
roles,
juggling
daytime
work
responsibilities
with
long
nights
and
weekends.
His
duo
careers
provide
the
perfect
pairing
of
left-brain
critical
thinking
and
reasoning
with
right-brain
creativity
and
intuitiveness.
Namesake
Nod
to
an
Ancestral
William
Frederick
If
every
designer
has
a
story
of
passionate
inspiration,
then
McNicol's
begins
in
his
hometown
of
Wellsville,
Ohio,
near
the
West
Virginia
border.
He
was
the
eight-year-old
kid
with
a
notebook
whose
dreams
and
sketches
of
clothing
and
footwear
were
the
first
glints
of
a
career
pathway.
Decades
later,
in
August
2018,
he
produced
the
first
collection
for
his
clothing
line
William
Frederick,
a
sentimental
nod
to
a
beloved
grandfather
whose
wit,
work
ethic,
style
and
calm
demeanor
are
the
legacy
gifts
paid
forward
to
the
amiable
34-year-old.
"My
collections
of
outerwear,
shirting,
trousers
and
accessories
are
based
on
clothing
attributes
he
valued
-
comfort,
utility
and
durability.
They
aren't
meant
to
be
one-season
trends.
I
want
to
create
pieces
that
are
worn
for
years
and
then
passed
down
to
future
generations,"
said
McNicol.
"When
clothing
is
cherished
and
becomes
an
integral
piece
of
a
person's
wardrobe,
its
value
builds
over
time.
It
reflects
an
individual's
personal
style
and
story
that
can
linger
like
a
visual
keepsake.
For
me,
my
grandfather's
blue
knit
cardigan
and
Seiko
watch
hold
special
meaning,"
he
explained.
McNicol's
collections
have
been
described
as
unisex
clothing
that
is
timeless,
classic,
modern
and
functional.
Amid
a
flurry
of
media
coverage
-
spanning
jaw-dropping
giants
like
GQ,
The
New
York
Times,
Robb
Report,
Forbes
and
other
national
outlets
-
his
designs
have
been
lauded
for
melding
the
purposefulness
of
workwear
with
visual
appeal
that
is
polished
and
tailored.
Given
such
practicality,
it
comes
as
no
surprise
that
even
at
his
breakout
NYFW
appearance
in
September,
McNicol
dismissed
extravagance
for
a
pragmatic
Midwest
approach
-
his
collections
were
modeled
by
18
of
his
artist
friends,
who
had
driven
overnight
to
the
fashion
show
in
a
caravan
from
Cleveland.
Putting
Cleveland
Back
in
the
Fashion
Forefront
Ask
McNicol
about
his
hometown,
and
he'll
talk
about
rail
terminals
and
docks
on
the
Ohio
River
and
its
role
in
industry.
That
footprint
made
a
mark
on
McNicol,
who
prioritizes
looking
local
for
the
manufacturing
needs
of
his
company
rather
than
outsourcing.
"It's
important
to
me
to
invest
in
our
community,"
emphasized
McNicol.
"I
want
to
be
part
of
the
revitalization
of
Cleveland
as
a
garment
industry
leader.
At
one
time,
Cleveland
was
second
only
to
New
York
in
terms
of
production.
Restoring
this
rich
tradition
is
inherent
to
the
William
Frederick
mission."
Also
important
to
McNicol
is
how
Baldwin
Wallace
helped
him
in
his
career
trek.
He
values
the
courses
-
accounting,
marketing,
economics,
management
and
finance
-
whose
content
is
still
a
mainstay
for
both
his
underwriter
and
fashion
roles.
But
he
believes
the
most
rewarding
element
of
the
business
courses
he
took
were
the
professors
who
brought
their
real-life
experiences
into
the
classrooms.
And
in
typical
McNicol
style,
he
is
ready
to
pay
it
forward
by
offering
summer
internships
with
William
Frederick.
"I
want
to
carry
that
forward
to
help
mentor
the
next
generation
of
business
and
fashion
students,
so
they
can
find
their
paths.
Giving
back
is
important
to
me.
It's
the
premise
by
which
I
define
success,"
he
asserted.
