Bronx clothing designer’s new fashion line incapsulates city-chic with ancient Nigerian style

A Nigerian fashion designer in the Bronx has a new clothing line out, made to be dynamic and versatile, no matter what New Yorkers have going on.

Chuks Collins has a new lifestyle clothing brand out called “The Athletic Side of Us,” that’s made for relaxing, working out or hitting the streets.

“People want clothes that they can transition in. If I wake up in the morning and I just want to go for a walk in the park, and from there I get a call to go somewhere,” Collins says.

He says he draws inspiration from across New York City, but especially from Crotona Park because he lives and works right across the street.

“The Bronx has inspired me a lot, even a couple of the clothes I’ve named after a couple of the streets in the Bronx,” Collins says.

Creating the pieces in his home studio, he worked with a mood board to incapsulate the spirit of the city and the ancient Benin Kingdom in Nigeria in the clothing itself as an ode to the country where he grew up and the city he now calls home.

“What I’m trying to do is create pieces that empower people to live your authentic self, to live your authentic life,” Collins says.

The brand uses recycled fabrics and plastic bottles. Collins says he wants people wearing the clothes to feel like they’re doing something good for the planet.

“I want people to know that this line is created for them, by them and with them in mind,” He says.

Collins says he’s been selected to participate in New York Fashion Week in mid-February.