MAHARISHI
(MAA·HUH·REE·SHEE) Sanskrit: Great vision
Maharishi (mahā) was founded by Hardy Blechman in 1994 with a vision to create environmentally conscious, durable, utilitarian clothing. Drawing from a deep respect for nature, it uses sustainable materials like hemp, organic cotton, and upcycled military fabrics, seamlessly blending them with innovative design and utilising the latest technology.
Collections explore the dualistic nature of the universe, often combining Eastern and Western artistic influences. This is also expressed in the fusion of high-visibility elements with traditional camouflage patterns, reflecting a pacifist reinterpretation of military aesthetics. Maharishi seeks to detach camouflage from its associations with war, instead promoting its roots in nature and development by artists.
At its core, Maharishi is committed to longevity and sustainability and therefore offers a free lifetime repair service for all its garments, ensuring that each piece lasts and maintains its value and utility over time.
PACIFIST MILITARY DESIGN
Maha’s vision is rooted in a respect for nature whilst also reimagining military design from a pacifist perspective - repurposing classic military motifs and systems, emphasising their utilitarian and artistic value rather than their association with war.
HIGH-VISIBILITY CAMOUFLAGE
Maharishi’s use of camouflage often includes symbols of nature and peace, rather than typical abstract disruptive patterns. The aim is to detach camouflage from its military association and promote its roots in nature and development by artists.
Maharishi harnesses the latest technology and include high visibility colours or reflective fabric technologies, further expressing the fact that it does not support camouflage being worn in order to conceal oneself from other members of our own species, nor to kill them.
ORIGINAL SNOPANTS®
Since 1996, when Maharishi depleted all remaining stocks of surplus 1980’s U.S. Army Snow Camouflage Over Trousers, they have produced a version, which includes over 10 original features on a streamlined silhouette.
RESPECT NATURE / UTILISE TECHNOLOGY
Maharishi's brand pillar of Respect Nature/Utilise Technology highlights a balance between sustainability and innovation. This dual approach reflects the brand's commitment to being eco-conscious while embracing technological advancements.
Maharishi promotes the use of organic materials and sustainable practices, ensuring minimal environmental impact. At the same time, by utilising technology, it innovates with cutting-edge processes that improve efficiency and reduce waste, blending traditional values with modern solutions.
DPM: DISRUPTIVE PATTERN MATERIAL
DPM aims to detach camouflage from its military associations and promote its natural roots and artistic influences.
This theory is described in DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material, a 944 page encyclopaedia of camouflage.
MAHA TAILOR SHOP
Maharishi explores its mythological Tailor Shop roots in 1960s Vietnam, where the Maha Tailor Shop rapidly expanded due to the influx of 3 million U.S. Army servicemen. The shop honed its expertise in uniform modifications, reproductions, and small-batch Tigerstripe and camouflage printing. Additionally, it produced unit badges, insignia, and nametapes, along with souvenirs such as Zippo lighters and embroidered tour jackets.
UPCYCLED
Maharishi was founded in 1994 recycling military and industrial surplus. Early collections included hand-spray painted, heavy-duty woven overalls original made by and for Prisoners of War in WW2 England, and U.S. Army Snow Camouflage Over Trousers, overdyed from the white original, which formed the loose inspiration for Maharishi’s Original Snopants®.
LUNAR CALENDAR
Maharishi’s respect for the natural world includes the celebration of the solstices, equinoxes and dates central to the solar and lunar calendars.
DUALITY
Duality is reflected in the seamless fusion of contrasting elements across Maharishi’s designs. This concept is evident in the blending of Eastern and Western aesthetics, such as the incorporation of traditional Eastern motifs with modern Western influences.
Maharishi plays with dualities through design elements like high-visibility camouflage, which juxtaposes the notion of concealment with the bold statement of visibility, further emphasising the brand's celebration of contrasts.
ART OF WAR
The ‘Art of War’ is a creative play on the ancient Chinese strategic text of the same name by Sun Tzu. Drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of military uniforms, camouflage, and tactical gear, Maharishi celebrates the visual language of war while remaining firmly rooted in peace.
These elements are used not to glorify conflict, but to explore the beauty of structure, discipline, and form in design, transforming the harshness of warfare into a peaceful artistic expression.
EAST / WEST
Maharishi explores the dualistic nature of the universe, often expressed through blending Eastern and Western artworks and silhouettes.
