Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nish Murdock. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Nish, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

So the year was 2017 and I was crocheting just to pass the time while traveling with my mom one weekend. I’ve been crocheting since I was six and I always brought a bag of yarn with me around just as a hobby to past time. So I was making a top that I thought would be cute and asked a friend of mine would she wear it. She said yes, and was so excited about it. She told me I should start selling them. So at the time I decided to make a brand called Crochet by Nish & I started making cute bra-lets and knitted halter tops. People loved it, but after a little bit of time, I felt like these designs didn’t represent my true style, which was more feminine streetwear, and blurred the lines between menswear & womenswear. So I decided to get some fabric and I sewed and crocheted my first crochet hoodie. It became a staple and I rebranded my business as Murdock in 2019, as a crochet streetwear brand. A lot of times when I have an idea, I will think about how a piece of artwork would make me feel in a museum. What would make me say, wow that’s different ? Sometimes it’s the silhouette, sometimes it’s texture, sometimes it’s the emotion evoked from the artwork. I try to design in the same way. I look for the things in art that are unconventional or things in nature that are not uniform. I then, try to bring a modern twist to those ideas with texture and shape, using yarn and interesting silhouettes replicating menswear into womenswear, cozy yet constructed. I always draw my designs on paper. I picture in my head how it would fit, function on someone, what they would wear it with, where they would be going and then I bring it to life. I had to figure out that you have to be true to yourself and your aesthetic, even if it doesn’t fit into anyone else’s. Be a game changer and create your own.

Nish, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Nish, the founder and creative director of Murdock, a contemporary fashion brand centered around elevated knitwear, texture, and craftsmanship. I’ve always been drawn to fashion as a form of identity and self-expression, and my background in luxury retail helped shape my understanding of what makes a brand feel aspirational, emotional, and memorable. I originally started creating crochet and knit pieces because I wanted to take the traditional hobby known as crocheting which is often recognized for making scarves and Grandma sweaters, take those techniques and make it into something modern, directional, and art-forward.

What sets Murdock apart is that we approach knitwear differently than many brands do. I’m interested in creating pieces that feel luxurious, directional, and emotionally memorable — not just trendy. I want people to feel like they’re wearing something collectible and expressive, like a piece of art. There’s a strong focus on detail, silhouette, texture play, and creating garments that photograph beautifully but also feel incredible in real life.

I am most proud of my collaboration with the amazing brands Jordan and DTLR, having my first art show producing 2-D and 3-D works of tangible art and fashion design designs. I continue to evolve every year and I think my supporters can see that evolution.

As Murdock continues to grow, my goal is to expand beyond fashion into a complete creative universe — including larger collections, international campaigns, immersive pop-ups, luxury retail partnerships, and eventually a full lifestyle experience. I want people to see Murdock not only as a clothing brand, but as a cultural and creative point of view.

More than anything, I want potential clients and supporters to know that Murdock is built with intention, ambition, and artistry. Every collection is designed to evoke feeling, confidence, escapism, and self-expression. I’m not just creating clothes, I’m building a world people want to step into.

I’m building a brand from pure vision and staying committed to creating something authentic. As an independent designer, I’ve learned the importance of trusting my instincts and building a world that people can genuinely connect to.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

So I myself don’t have a super large following on my social media platforms. However, I consistently have orders with sometimes little marketing even. It’s because I’ve really gained the trust of my clients and I’ve not just built a brand, but I’ve connected to them on a personal level. I think the most important thing to do in business is figure out exactly who your target audience is and then when you market to them, your goal is not to sell something but just to connect. People make purchases and decisions emotionally and people love connection. So instead of trying to sell a product or service, I always think it’s important for business owners to understand what problem they’re solving on an emotional aspect. For me, I design for the cool girls, the fashionable guys and those in between who are trying to find a way they can create a lane of their own. Murdock emotionally connects to clients by creating pieces that make people feel confident, elevated, expressive, and seen. The brand is rooted in storytelling, mood, and lifestyle — not just clothing.

The connection also comes from authenticity and craftsmanship. In a world where fashion can often feel fast and impersonal, Murdock brings intention, texture, artistry, and individuality back into the experience. Social media gives you the opportunity to express that connection and showcase it visually. For a moment the client can have a look into your world and the best way to grow online is to give your audience a peek into that world every single day.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

So in 2021, I was contacted by a particular stylist whose client was an influencer / fashion model with a pretty large following on social media. She mentioned that her client needed some pieces for a trip to Tulum and she was really excited to work with my brand. So I overnighted about $1000 worth of merchandise directly to her studio in exchange for brand exposure on social media. Months went by and I never saw or heard back from that stylist nor the model. One day months later, I was scrolling on social media and saw on my explore page, that model wearing my brand completely head to toe in a trip to Tulum.

I was completely surprised because I wasn’t aware that my pieces were even received let alone worn and posted online. I really-posted her on my page so happy that she had loved the pieces, however, my supporters and fans were upset that I didn’t receive the recognition online for her wearing my pieces and spammed her page. The lesson that I learned was that sometimes you have to give a little to get a little & you catch more bees with honey. In this industry and in business in general, you have to continue to push through even if you don’t get the answer that you want right away. I was resilient, even though I had given away $1000 worth of merchandise away, which at the time I thought was for nothing but in the end, every single one of my followers tagged me in her post and eventually the model reached out and apologize for the oversight it was looking forward to making more purchases with me in the future. You have to remember that even when things don’t go your way sometimes rejection is protection and things work out better in the end. I have designs that I’ve archived and never put out until a year later and became my most popular best seller. Never throw away your ideas, always say resilient and never give up. When it comes to your dreams, a “no” could be just a “not yet.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themurdockcollection.com
• Instagram: Mxrdock

Image Credits

Nish Murdock