Nicola Brognano Brings Bold New Vision to 7 For All Mankind Ahead of NYFW Debut

7 For All Mankind, widely recognized as one of the defining premium denim labels of the early 2000s, has announced the appointment of Italian designer Nicola Brognano as its new creative director. The Los Angeles-founded brand, known for its high-end jeans that became a staple of red carpets and celebrity street style, is positioning the hire as a key step in transforming the label from a denim specialist into a broader fashion house.

Brognano is best known for his tenure as creative director of Blumarine, where he helped drive a high-profile revival of the Italian label by leaning into Y2K-influenced silhouettes, bold embellishments, and a confident, body-conscious aesthetic. His work there drew strong attention from fashion media and fans, especially younger audiences who engaged heavily with the brand’s imagery on platforms such as Instagram .

In announcing his new role, 7 For All Mankind highlighted Brognano’s “confident fusion of sensual femininity, youthfulness and a sharp awareness of contemporary visual culture” as central to the brand’s next phase. Sacha Gomez de Zamora, Global President of 7 For All Mankind, described the designer’s arrival as critical to building “a strong creative eco-system” and evolving the company into “a fashion brand anchored in denim innovation.”

Brognano, for his part, has framed the move as both an evolution and a return to a foundational fashion category. He stated that his goal is to create collections that respect the “DNA” of 7 For All Mankind while infusing “confident ease” and an “of-the-moment attitude” that extends beyond denim into a richer brand universe. His previous collections at Blumarine frequently referenced early-2000s pop culture and queer nightlife aesthetics, which were widely discussed in fashion media as part of a broader Y2K revival embraced by LGBTQ+ communities.

The brand has confirmed that Brognano’s first collection for 7 For All Mankind will be unveiled at New York Fashion Week in February 2026, marking the label’s first-ever runway show at the event. Positioning the debut in New York—long regarded as a center of American sportswear, street style, and queer cultural innovation—signals an intention to reinsert 7 For All Mankind into the global fashion conversation, with a focus on relevance to contemporary city life and diverse communities.

Industry coverage has framed the move as part of a larger pattern of denim and heritage brands seeking to refresh their image through high-profile creative appointments and runway activations. Fashion analysts have noted that denim remains a core wardrobe element across genders and identities, with inclusive sizing, diverse casting, and gender-expansive styling becoming central expectations for major fashion labels.

Denim has long held a particular resonance for LGBTQ+ communities as a versatile medium for self-expression—from customized jackets and patches in queer nightlife scenes to gender-fluid silhouettes that resist traditional menswear and womenswear boundaries. Contemporary fashion research and exhibition work have documented how denim has been used by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people as both everyday wear and a tool of subtle or overt signaling, especially in urban centers.

With fashion houses increasingly foregrounding inclusive casting and storytelling on the runway, observers are watching how 7 For All Mankind’s New York Fashion Week debut under Brognano may reflect these shifts. Many recent high-visibility shows across the industry have featured transgender models, non-binary models, and a broad spectrum of LGBTQ+ talent, aligning with broader calls from advocacy organizations for more authentic representation in fashion imagery and campaigns. While 7 For All Mankind has not yet outlined specific casting or campaign details for its 2026 debut, the brand’s stated focus on “cultural relevance” and “a richer, more cohesive brand universe” positions it within an industry context where inclusive storytelling is increasingly viewed as integral to credibility and long-term growth.

As Brognano prepares his first collection for the label, fashion-watchers, LGBTQ+ consumers, and industry stakeholders will be looking to see how his history of visually bold, youth-oriented design translates into denim-centric collections that acknowledge the diverse ways people use fashion to express gender, sexuality, and identity.