Design Deep Dive: The Cold Heart Collection
DESIGN DEEP DIVE: THE COLD HEART COLLECTION
JULY 11, 2025 | BY CRAIG D. WASHINGTON
What’s the real story behind the Cold Heart Collection? For those who live the code, this drop is more than a seasonal statement—it’s a reflection of the highs, lows, and unapologetic resilience that define Detroit and the Top Notch NME legacy.
Origins: From Emotion to Fabric
The concept for Cold Heart was born during a winter that changed everything. Detroit’s streets were frozen, but the creative fire was alive. Inspired by the emotional complexity of heartbreak and the relentless drive to keep moving forward, I set out to design a collection that balanced vulnerability and strength. Each piece had to capture both the chill of solitude and the heat of ambition.
Materials: A Story You Can Feel
The Cold Heart Collection is crafted from premium monochromatic textiles, sleek Italian leathers, and hand-selected metallic accents. We used matte black, icy silvers, deep blues, and arctic whites—colors that mirror winter’s extremes. The textures are tactile, inviting you to feel the story: croc-embossed leathers for the tough exterior, plush linings for hidden warmth, and metallic hardware as a nod to the armor we wear through struggle.
Signature Pieces
Standouts include the blue leather and fox-fur bomber—bold, unapologetic, and crafted to make a statement on any block. The custom Cold Heart duffle pairs function and style for the traveler who never shows all their cards. Every piece features subtle, encrypted “2854” detailing, tying each garment to the brand’s code and legacy.
The Message
Cold Heart isn’t about shutting down—it’s about enduring, evolving, and wearing your scars as part of your style. Each jacket, bag, and accessory is a tribute to those who’ve weathered storms and kept moving, transforming pain into a badge of honor.
The Culture
The drop fuses streetwear with luxury, blending Detroit techno energy with high-fashion construction. Every photoshoot, every campaign, every collab is about bridging the underground with the elite, reminding the world that the coldest hearts often hide the brightest flames.
The Cold Heart Collection is not just what you wear—it’s the vibration you bring to the room. Limited, iconic, and forever part of the Top Notch NME story.
SHOP COLD HEART
Origins: From Emotion to Fabric
The concept for Cold Heart was born during a winter that changed everything. Detroit’s streets were frozen, but the creative fire was alive. Inspired by the emotional complexity of heartbreak and the relentless drive to keep moving forward, I set out to design a collection that balanced vulnerability and strength. Each piece had to capture both the chill of solitude and the heat of ambition.
Materials: A Story You Can Feel
The Cold Heart Collection is crafted from premium monochromatic textiles, sleek Italian leathers, and hand-selected metallic accents. We used matte black, icy silvers, deep blues, and arctic whites—colors that mirror winter’s extremes. The textures are tactile, inviting you to feel the story: croc-embossed leathers for the tough exterior, plush linings for hidden warmth, and metallic hardware as a nod to the armor we wear through struggle.
Signature Pieces
Standouts include the blue leather and fox-fur bomber—bold, unapologetic, and crafted to make a statement on any block. The custom Cold Heart duffle pairs function and style for the traveler who never shows all their cards. Every piece features subtle, encrypted “2854” detailing, tying each garment to the brand’s code and legacy.
The Message
Cold Heart isn’t about shutting down—it’s about enduring, evolving, and wearing your scars as part of your style. Each jacket, bag, and accessory is a tribute to those who’ve weathered storms and kept moving, transforming pain into a badge of honor.
The Culture
The drop fuses streetwear with luxury, blending Detroit techno energy with high-fashion construction. Every photoshoot, every campaign, every collab is about bridging the underground with the elite, reminding the world that the coldest hearts often hide the brightest flames.
The Cold Heart Collection is not just what you wear—it’s the vibration you bring to the room. Limited, iconic, and forever part of the Top Notch NME story.
The 2854 Code
Discover the hidden meaning behind 2854 and how it’s woven into every Top Notch NME drop.
Meet the Designer
Go behind the scenes with Craig D. Washington—founder, visionary, and the heart behind the brand’s evolution.
Legacy in the Streets
How Detroit’s resilience, music, and creative energy fuel every piece in the Top Notch NME universe.