After announcing the departure of co-founder and creative director Piotrek Panszczyk on Feb. 4, New York-based Area has tapped Nicholas Aburn as creative director. The designer joins from Balenciaga Couture, where he served as senior designer, and has also worked at Tom Ford and Alexander Wang.

Aburn “will amplify Area’s resonance and propel us into an exciting new era,” said Beckett Fogg, Area founder and chief executive in a statement. Aburn cited New York City’s mix of “raw energy and glamour” as a source of inspiration, and said he was “excited to bring the brand back to its roots,” in the statement.

Aburn’s first collection will be Spring/Summer 2026.

Learn more:

Area Co-Founder Piotrek Panszczyk Departs After a Decade

Alongside Beckett Fogg, the designer turned the New York-based brand into a celebrity favourite known for its eye-catching clothes and accessories.