New York-based fashion brand Area has announced the appointment of Nicholas Aburn as its new creative director, following the departure of Piotrek Panszczyk, the brand’s co-founder and former creative director.
Aburn, who has previously worked as a senior designer at Balenciaga Couture, also gained experience at Alexander Wang and Tom Ford. Area’s co-founder and current CEO, Beckett Fogg, stated, “His vision for the brand’s evolution will amplify Area’s resonance and propel us into an exciting new era.”
Originally from Maryland, Aburn earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Central Saint Martins, where he studied under the late Louise Wilson. He began his career as an assistant designer for women’s wear and VIP clients at Tom Ford, later specializing in flou and eveningwear. He then spent nearly four years as a senior designer for women’s wear at Alexander Wang before joining Balenciaga Couture in 2022 as a senior designer.
Having been based in Paris in recent years, Aburn is now returning to the U.S. for his new role. In a statement, he expressed his excitement, saying, “New York has always inspired me with its mix of raw energy and glamour. Area truly embodies this spirit, and I am excited to bring the brand back to its roots.”
Founded in 2014 by Fogg and Panszczyk, who met while studying in the Fashion Design and Society master’s program at Parsons School of Design, Area has built a reputation for exploring evolving concepts of beauty and femininity through a bold and innovative design approach.
Aburn’s first collection for Area is set to debut for the Spring/Summer 2026 season.