Draft:Hardy Blechman
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Hardy Blechman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 May 1968 Clapham, London, United Kingdom. |
| Spouse | Olivia Willcock (m. 2006) |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | emaharishi.com |
Hardy Blechman is a British fashion designer and founder of London-based clothing brand Maharishi. He is known for his use of natural fibres, utilitarian design, East-West hybrid silhouettes and embroidery, and for his work with camouflage.
Career
[edit]Hardy Blechman began his career buying and selling military surplus before founding his label Maharishi in 1994. Blechman's work with military aesthetics and camouflage patterns attempts to change the way these innovations are perceived and used in civilian culture.[1]
Blechman won the British Fashion Council's Streetwear Designer of the Year Award in 2000.[2] By then, Maharishi had become a staple amongst celebrities like Madonna, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, D'Angelo, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Ian Brown, Ian Astbury, Sting, Tom Hardy, Christina Aguilera and others.[3][4]
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 popularity and use across culture, art and fashion.[5] In a 2013 Complex magazine story listing "triple OG labels that are still slaying the competition," Blechman is cited as "knowing more about camo than the Pentagon."[6]
Alongside the book's publication, Blechman and DPM released Terminator sneakers with Nike, camouflage speakers with Bowers & Wilkins and DPM Series 1 Kubrick's with Japanese toy makers Medicom, and went on to design bespoke patterns for NorthFace, Penfield and others.[7][8][9][10]
Blechman has also worked on numerous musical projects as a designer, and is Visual Creative Director of the Everything Is Recorded artist project by producer and XL Recordings founder Richard Russell.[11] In 2011, Blechman and Aitor Throup co-designed the sleeve for the collaborative album Kinshasa One Two, as part of a project led by Damon Albarn titled DRC Music.[12]
Designs
[edit]Blechman's camouflage designs often include symbols of nature and peace and his collections make use upcycled vintage military surplus, as well as vintage garments like silk Kimonos.[13] One of Maharishi's signatures, the Snopants, were created when supply of the discontinued U.S. Army "Snow Camouflage Over Trousers" became unavailable for continued upcycling.[14] In their millennial round up Arena Magazine described Snopants as "the most copied pants of the decade".[15]
Aside from upcycling, Maharishi produces many of its garments with natural fibres like hemp fabric and organic cotton.[16]Blechman also developed the first waterproof hemp fabric with the Italian mill ITS Artea.[12]
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".[17] 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.[18][19][20][21]
Blechman has collaborated with a wide range of musicians including Travis Scott, 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.[22][23][24][25]
Artworks
[edit]Blechman has also worked as an artist, producing large embroidered canvases and sculptures shown at London's Riflemaker Gallery at the invitation of British artist Gavin Turk, and later in a group show at the same gallery alongside William Burroughs.[26][27] Works often explore similar themes to those expressed in his fashion work including camouflage and pacifism.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ Blanchard, Tamsin (October 18, 2003). "Turn over a new leaf". The Observer – via The Guardian.
- ^ Andrews, Calum (September 24, 2021). "New Brand: Maharishi". HHV Journal.
- ^ Cochrane, Lauren (January 10, 2015). "Maharishi - a triumphant return for the cult 1990s label". The Guardian.
- ^ "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".
- ^ BAYLEY, reviewed by STEPHEN (January 1, 2005). "Disruptive Pattern Material by Hardy Blechman". www.thetimes.com.
- ^ "The Oldest Streetwear Brands in Business Today". Complex.
- ^ "Nike Nike Terminator High Maharishi Disruptive Pattern Material | Size 10 Limited Edition Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's". www.sothebys.com.
- ^ "B&W 601 DPM Speaker Woodland Colorway". Acquire. November 21, 2014.
- ^ "DPM IDENTIFIER SERIES 1 KUBRICK BY MEDICOM TOY JAPAN". Maharishi.
- ^ . https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/hardy-blechman-maharishi-interview/.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher=|title=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Empire, Kitty (February 18, 2018). "Everything Is Recorded: Everything Is Recorded By Richard Russell review – mogul music with a stellar cast". The Guardian.
- ^ a b "WHAT ELSE? | Hardy Blechman". Highsnobiety. January 21, 2015.
- ^ "Maharishi's "Upcycled in London" Restores Old Military Garb With Signature Motifs". Hypebeast. September 8, 2017.
- ^ "The Original Snopants® Story". Maharishi.
- ^ Freaker, Sneaker. "SF Interview With Maharishi Founder Hardy Blechman - Industry News". www.sneakerfreaker.com.
- ^ "Organic Cotton". Maharishi.
- ^ "Art". Maharishi.
- ^ "Maharishi Presents Full "Maha Basquiat" Collection". Hypebeast. June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Maharishi celebrates Warhol's preoccupation with death". Hero.
- ^ "Rainbow Tagging – MAHARISHI x IRAK Collection". Concrete.
- ^ "maharishi Enlists Street Art Veteran PART ONE for Its Latest "Graffiti Legend Series"". Hypebeast. October 19, 2016.
- ^ "Maharishi To Release Collection For Lupe Fiasco's Iaidō Club". November 8, 2024.
- ^ "maharishi Celebrates Everything Is Recorded Album With Exclusive Tee". Hypebeast. February 8, 2018.
- ^ "maharishi Is Dropping the Custom Jacket It Made for Travis Scott". Hypebeast. April 20, 2016.
- ^ "MAHAPATCHCO. Honors Vietnam War Patch-Covered Jackets With "Entertainers Tour" Capsule". Hypebeast. June 30, 2021.
- ^ "Riflemaker Contemporary Art | The Riflemaker Gallery | Gavin Turk".
- ^ "Riflemaker Contemporary Art | The Riflemaker Gallery |". www.riflemaker.org.
- ^ Cheong, Meisy (February 20, 2014). "From The Vault: Interview – Hardy Blechman". Acclaim Magazine.