Nard's Perihelion: "The World Is Mine"

I caught up with my friend, trailblazing streetwear model, Nard a few weeks back in the studio of rising rapper, Jogeta, on one of the cooler nights in January. Nard opts for a full black outfit as he sits across from me dressed in Korrupt Anarchy jeans with intricate stitch detail and his beloved Comme des Garçon Nike Foamposites paired with a simple, slightly oversized Ralph Lauren full zip. Nard completes the look by slipping on his signature Prada frames he notes are his essentials before my first question:

S: What is your name?

N: Nard, Almightynard—all that.

Pietparra x Soleclassics

S: Where are you from?

N: Columbus Ohio. Eastside of Columbus.

S: How old are you?

N: 21.

S: What’s your sign?

N: Aries, big Aries.

S: What traits do you display best from that sign?

N: I’m passionate, all-around fiery.

S: Who is your favorite designer?

N: Hmm I really like Margiela. But outside of that, Jodye Bravo…honestly, Jodye the truth.

Bravowrldwide

S: What’s your most-worn piece?

N: These shoes (Black Comme Des Garçon foamposites) I got on right now. Oh! And these (Korrupt Anarchy) jeans too! The shoes and these jeans are like an everyday mood. The Foams are a must because when I was a kid it was what I would save my money for.

Before I got a job, I was really hustling; whether it was cutting grass or racking leaves. I was doing it just to buy some Foams, for real.

I still remember when I was in eighth grade I had

the Astro Foams, those were my favorite shoes!

Pictured with friends, Chris (left) and Scott (right).

S: How did you get into modeling?

N: I had always liked getting dressed. Then I met my friends Scott (General Public founder) and Chris (Korrupt Anarchy founder) and they’d always be designing clothes and I just happened to always be around, so naturally, I just start putting it on. Shit was green from there.

S: What helps you get into “model mode” before an important shoot?

N: Music. Music is my life. Music gets me into whatever mode I need to be in. I can’t do it without the music.

S: What’s your pre-shoot playlist look like?

N: Shit, might listen to Carti, Geta, and definitely some Destroy Lonely. Destroy Lonely is a must before the shoot just because he be swagging so much—he will get you in the mood!

S: What does a week in your life look like?

Pictured with Self Made founder

N: Hustling, in whatever form that might be. Just this *gestures to the studio the six of us are in* for real. I be with my homies just getting shit together.

S: What was your first model experience?

N: My first modeling experience was literally in somebody’s garage. I ate an edible before I came so by the time we started shooting I was very high. I was so nervous I didn’t know if I had ever wanted to do it again but I met some cool people that day.

S: What was your favorite modeling experience?

N: My favorite one was fashion week for sure. Just because it was my first time walking and my first time modeling in a different state. It was cool meeting new people from all over.

S: What was the modeling experience that made you realize “this is what feels right for me”?

N: Hmmm *laughs* fashion week! For sure. Just because it was people in there that had been doing this shit forever and it was my first time being there—it was smooth.

Nard for The Messiah Clothing SS22 NYFW.

S: Do you have any mentors or role models?

N: My dad, because through any situation and in any environment my dad will always be himself.

S: What do you want out of your career in the next year?

N: In the next year, I just want to be booked and busy. The most important factor is that I am aiming to be booked out of the country. Whether that’s on a runway or even on some small shit. Just out of the country for sure.

S: How do you cope with hardships?

N: That shit not gonna last forever. You can be down for a little bit but it’s not even anything you really gotta cope with if you just keep in mind that it won’t last forever. Feel me? Just get through that shit man.

Nard and recording artist, Uqoma, for Korrupt Anarchy.

S: Do you see yourself branching into other avenues? If so what are they?

N: Yeah for sure. I wanna design clothes, just because I’m around so much of that. I also like music a lot, I could see myself being a DJ or an A&R—someone responsible for finding the latest artist and getting them the exposure they need. I tend to see potential in people. I want everybody to go up.

S: What has modeling taught you about yourself

N: That confidence is everything. If you don’t believe in yourself as a model, it’s gonna show. If you feel good, you look good—in every part of life. *Laughs* Real shit you gotta believe in yourself in whatever you doing. That’s number one.

S: What’s something people wouldn’t know just by looking at you?

N: They wouldn’t know that—it’s some cliché shit—but they probably wouldn’t know that I’m the most down-to-earth person there is. I could talk to anybody. When a lot of people start to see you receive a certain level of attention, they think you act a certain way. But I’m a regular person just like everybody else, literally.

Pictured with recording artist, Jogeta.

S: Who or what keeps you motivated?

N: The gang for sure. My close friends and family, they’re the reason I’m doing all of this in the first place. Yeah, they keep me pretty motivated.

S: Finally, If the world was yours for a month what would it be like?

N: I already feel like the world is mine. You’re looking at it and this is what it is. This is how it’s gonna be forever.