In college she wanted to create something that would take women on a journey, but how did that lead to a lifestyle brand? Katherine Lantuch spent her whole life in the artistic traveled world. Her parents took her to the museums and great estates of Europe. “I spent my childhood touring places like Versailles and the Hermitage. The Met in New York City was my backyard. And I saw my first opera at 7 years old.”
Katherine was drawn to the opulent world of history and travel. Her father loved history and shared the gilded lifestyles of past world leaders with her. “I was exposed to multiple eras and cultures all my life and taught the history of Katherine the Great, Cleopatra, and other strong female military leaders including her grandmother who drove a truck to the front lines during WWII.”
In college when video production wasn’t current, Katherine’s senior project was a perfume commercial that showed an esthetic reflecting all the worlds she’d come to know. “I’d spend hours in the library studying Diana Reiland and the fashion photography of David Baily.” Her video was noticed, and she was offered a job with Sandy Carlson whose job was to create the image of Ralph Lauren. Katherine was instrumental in that effort.
Next up was a position at Bergdorf Goodman. “The mission was to transform Bergdorf’s into the luxury store that it is today. She reached out to David Bailey, one of her idols, to assist. “Then my dream came true.” Katherine was hired to work for Ralph Lauren and remained there for the bulk of her career working in the digital e-commerce world during its infancy.
But always in the back of her mind was her own brand. “I’d had that dream since high school.” When the pandemic hit, Katherine saw the perfect opportunity to get started. “With technology to communicate around the world, I used my past contacts to create my first line of 15 items.” Katherine used everything she had learned in the e-commerce space to build her aesthetic and launch.
One night while staring at a world map in her 10-year-old son’s bedroom she came up with her name. The Nicobar Islands off the coast of India are set in a magical blue ocean, hence – Nico Blu. Katherine’s father helped her design the logo to represent her vision for the brand.
Within two months, and only with pre-orders, she sold out. “I knew I had proof of concept. It was an outcome that exceeded all expectations.”
“The NicoBlu woman is cosmopolitan, powerful, well read and well lived.” Katherine describes the line as an effortless blend of style inspired by the glamour of Jaipur, Marrakesh, and Cote D’Azur. Glamorous staples. Casual luxe. Unassuming taste. “I obsess about every detail, down to achieving the perfect grosgrain ribbon trim that resembles a 1920s ribbon I picked up at a Paris flea market years ago or homing in on the perfect palette of pastels that resemble the halls of Versailles.” When you see the designs and workmanship on the clothing, you know Katherine has hit the mark with her brand.
Katherine says, “Building your own business is so much more intense than working in a corporate environment.” But she has always known that one day she would have her own brand. “It’s in my DNA to build things. My comfort zone is to be out of my comfort zone and starting my own business was all that and more.”
VentureMom Tip
Get out of your comfort zone.
