Wikipedia

Draft:Maharishi (brand)

  • Comment: Phrases like "Maharishi approaches camouflage in a way that foregrounds its design history and connection to the natural world" and the use of words like "dedicated" are similar to advertising copy and are overall convey a non-neutral tone and make the proposed article seem like an advertorial. MarcGarver (talk) 14:54, 10 October 2024 (UTC)


Maharishi (brand)

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Maharishi is a London based brand established by Hardy Blechman in 1994. Maharishi (literal Sanskrit translation "great seer") is focused on using natural fibres and up-cycled army issued clothing for collections that reference utilitarian uniforms from around the world. Collections explore the notion of duality by taking a pacifist approach to military design, and by blending Eastern and Western influence through elements like pagoda imagery, symbols such as dragons, and the application of reworked obi belts.[1] With clothes popular in both streetwear and fashion communities, Maharishi has stores in central London and downtown New York.

History

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Founder Hardy Blechman began his career buying and selling military surplus before founding his label Maharishi in 1994.  Maharishi promotes what they call “Pacifist Military Design” in order to alter the perception of military garments and camouflage patterns.[2]

Blechman won the British Fashion Council’s Streetwear Designer of the Year Award in 2000, amidst the huge popularity of Maharishi’s Original Snopants and intricate embroideries on sport and military styles.[3] At the time, the Snopants had become a staple amongst celebrities like David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, D’Angelo, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Ian Brown, Ian Astbury, Sting, Tom Hardy, Christina Aguilera and others.[4]

Maharishi’s first flagship store was opened in central London in 2001.

In 2004, Maharishi published Hardy Blechman’s DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material, a 944 page camouflage encyclopaedia. The book charts the history of camouflage from its roots in nature, to its adoption by the military, and onto its current popularity and use within art and fashion.[5] In a 2013 Complex magazine story listing “triple OG labels that are still slaying the competition,” Maharishi is cited as “knowing more about camo than the Pentagon.”[6]

Its first store in the United States opened in downtown New York in 2018.

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Maharishi is part of the first generation of streetwear brands to incorporate artist collaborations into their collections, formalising this methodology as the “Guest Artist Program”.[7] The brand has worked in partnership with artists and photographers including Toby Ziegler, Kay 1, Futura 2000, Stash, Sharp, KAWS, Rostarr, WK Interact, Tashi Mannox, Myoshka, Jay 1, the Andy Warhol Foundation, the Estate of Jean Michel Basquiat, Mode 2, Teach, Part 1, Henry Chalfant, Michael Lau, IRAK, Neckface, Mark Gonzales, Bjarne Melgaard, and Tim Page.[8]

Maharishi founder Hardy Blechman has also worked on numerous musical projects as a designer, and is Visual Creative Director of the Everything Is Recorded artist project, founded by musician and XL Recordings owner Richard Russell.[9] In 2011, Blechman co-designed the sleeve for the collaborative album Kinshasa One Two, the first release of a project led by Damon Albarn for Oxfam, titled DRC Music.[10]

Maharishi has directly collaborated with a wide range of musicians  including The Fugees, The Pharcyde, Lupe Fiasco, Jaguar Skills,  Richard Russell, Damon Albarn, Bobby Womack, and CASISDEAD as well as record labels Science, Wall of Sound, Mo’ Wax, Tommy Boy, XL Recordings, Hyperdub and V Recordings.[11][12] The brand's designs have found considerable popularity with musicians including Massive Attack, De La Soul, RZA, Seb Rochford, Nas, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Sampha, and Shy FX.[13][14][15]

Production

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Snopants

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One of Maharishi’s signatures, the Snopants, began as an upcycled version of the U.S. Army “Snow Camouflage Over Trousers”.[16] Maharishi altered the silhouette and fabrication while often adding embroideries, which made the Snopants a coveted item among celebrities and streetwear enthusiasts.[1] In their millennial round up Arena Magazine described Snopants as “the most copied pants of the decade”.[17]

Upcycling

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Maharishi was founded “with the intention to offer environmentally sound hemp and upcycled military & industrial surplus”, according to Hardy Blechman. Their collections regularly include repurposed garments such as U.S. army liners and flight jackets, Italian military surplus knits, and Austrian M65 jackets, as well as vintage silk Kimonos.[18]

Hemp and Natural Fibres

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Maharishi produces its garments with natural fibres like hemp fabric and organic cotton.[19] Founder Blechman also developed the first waterproof hemp fabric with the Italian mill ITS Artea.[20]

Camouflage

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Asides from their mainline collections with Camouflage garments, Maharishi has designed patterns for the likes of The North Face, G-Shock, Samsonite, X-Box, The Andy Warhol Foundation, UNIQLO, Arsenal Football Club and collaborated directly with Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Porter, Globe Trotter and Disney on items including original camouflage designs.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cochrane, Lauren (2015-01-10). "Maharishi - a triumphant return for the cult 1990s label". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  2. ^ "Maharishi Unveils Lineup of M.A.L.I.C.E. Bags". Hypebeast. 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  3. ^ Andrews, Calum (2021-09-24). "New Brand: Maharishi". HHV Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  4. ^ "With a globally curated assortment of designers and brands, SEVENSTORE offers a unique collection of clothing, footwear and accessories from luxury fashion houses, archetypal contemporaries, and collaborative behemoths to the forefront of fashion". SevenStore. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  5. ^ BAYLEY, reviewed by STEPHEN (2005-01-01). "Disruptive Pattern Material by Hardy Blechman". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  6. ^ "The Oldest Streetwear Brands in Business Today". www.complex.com. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  7. ^ thesolesupplier.co.uk https://thesolesupplier.co.uk/news/maharishi-brings-in-the-lunar-new-year-with-its-year-of-the-rabbit-capsule/. Retrieved 2024-10-10. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ a b "Journal". Maharishi. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  9. ^ Empire, Kitty (2018-02-18). "Everything Is Recorded: Everything Is Recorded By Richard Russell review – mogul music with a stellar cast". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  10. ^ Jonze, Tim (2011-11-06). "DRC Music: Kinshasa One Two – review". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  11. ^ Bruce-Jones, Henry (2019-12-11). "Hyperdub teams up with Maharishi and AIAIA for capsule collection". Fact Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  12. ^ "maharishi x XL Recordings". Maharishi. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  13. ^ Lawson, Llivane (2015-11-17). "Maharishi Makes Custom Jacket for Travis Scott". PAUSE Online | Men's Fashion, Street Style, Fashion News & Streetwear. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  14. ^ "RZA Speaks on His Fashion Inspirations". Hypebeast. 2010-10-26. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  15. ^ "[De La Soul]; Maharishi | Hip Hop | 2023". Sotheby's. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  16. ^ "The Original Snopants® Story". Maharishi. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  17. ^ Freaker, Sneaker. "SF Interview With Maharishi Founder Hardy Blechman - Industry News". www.sneakerfreaker.com. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  18. ^ "Maharishi's "Upcycled in London" Restores Old Military Garb With Signature Motifs". Hypebeast. 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  19. ^ "Organic Cotton". Maharishi. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  20. ^ "WHAT ELSE? | Hardy Blechman". Highsnobiety. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
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