Photography by Ryan Pfluger in New York on September 8, 2015. Groomer: Angela DiCarlo.
As creative director of Diesel, Nicola Formichetti may be carrying a billion-dollar fashion empire on his shoulders, but he hasn't forgotten his first-hour supporters. He recently introduced his passion project, Nicopanda, a genderless clothing line that keeps queer culture at the core of his creative process. "One of my favorite moments this year was working with trans teens at New York's LGBT Center," he says. "It was a real pleasure to meet such an inspiring group. They're helping define what it means to be young and transgender in the U.S. today." Riding the Diesel float at New York's Pride parade this summer, Formichetti once again proved he's using his power for good. "Everyone is able to have a degree of influence in this world if they want to," he says. "I'm fortunate that so many people turn to me as a source of inspiration. I feel that I have a responsibility to raise awareness, and work to make the world a more equal place for everyone."
