Draft:Hardy Blechman

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2003/oct/19/shopping.homes|title=Turn over a new leaf|first=Tamsin|last=Blanchard|work=The Observer |date=October 18, 2003|via=The Guardian}}

Blechman won the British Fashion Council's Streetwear Designer of the Year Award in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://hhv-journal.com/en/allgemein-de/new-brand-maharishi/|title=New Brand: Maharishi|first=Calum|last=Andrews|date=September 24, 2021|website=HHV Journal}} By then, Maharishi was worn by celebrities like Madonna, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, D'Angelo, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Ian Brown, Ian Astbury, Sting, Tom Hardy, Christina Aguilera and others.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2015/jan/10/maharishi-a-triumphant-return-for-the-cult-1990s-label|title=Maharishi - a triumphant return for the cult 1990s label|first=Lauren|last=Cochrane|work=The Guardian |date=January 10, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sevenstore.com/editorial/the-swiss-army-trouser-the-history-of-maharishis-snopant/#:~:text=In%201997%2C%20a%20then%20twenty,and%20small%2Dtown%20fans%20alike | title=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 }}

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 use across culture, art and fashion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/disruptive-pattern-material-by-hardy-blechman-9gdkldlrf5b|title=Disruptive Pattern Material by Hardy Blechman|first=reviewed by STEPHEN|last=BAYLEY|date=January 1, 2005|website=www.thetimes.com}} 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/style/a/teofilo-killip/the-oldest-streetwear-brands-in-business-today|title=The Oldest Streetwear Brands in Business Today|website=Complex}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/sneakers/_Nike-Terminator-High-Maharishi-Disruptive-Pattern-Material-or-Size-10|title=Nike Nike Terminator High Maharishi Disruptive Pattern Material | Size 10 Limited Edition Available For Immediate Sale At Sotheby's|website=www.sothebys.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.acquiremag.com/tech/bw-601-dpm-speaker-woodland-co|title=B&W 601 DPM Speaker Woodland Colorway|date=November 21, 2014|website=Acquire}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.maharishistore.com/blogs/archive/dpm-identifier-series-1-kubrick-by-medicom-toy-japan?srsltid=AfmBOor0PFHo7T4KYQkgmt8Wkl7DPXM7HmnSW9gTF53KKpNrkdKCCCdp|title=DPM IDENTIFIER SERIES 1 KUBRICK BY MEDICOM TOY JAPAN|website=Maharishi}}{{cite web |website=www.highsnobiety.com |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/hardy-blechman-maharishi-interview/ |title=WHAT ELSE? | Hardy Blechman |date=21 January 2015 }}

Blechman has also worked on 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/18/everything-is-recorded-review-mogul-music-with-a-stellar-cast-richard-russell-xl#:~:text=Everything+Is+Recorded+can+be,%E2%80%9Cthis+thing+is+on%E2%80%9D.|title=Everything Is Recorded: Everything Is Recorded By Richard Russell review – mogul music with a stellar cast|first=Kitty|last=Empire|work=The Guardian |date=February 18, 2018}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/hardy-blechman-maharishi-interview/|title=WHAT ELSE? | Hardy Blechman|date=January 21, 2015|website=Highsnobiety}}

Blechman's camouflage designs often include symbols of nature and peace, while his collections make use upcycled vintage military surplus, as well as vintage garments like silk Kimonos.{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2017/9/maharishi-upcycled-london-series|title=Maharishi's "Upcycled in London" Restores Old Military Garb With Signature Motifs|date=September 8, 2017|website=Hypebeast}} The Snopants, an early Maharishi garment, were created when supply of the discontinued U.S. Army "Snow Camouflage Over Trousers" became unavailable for continued upcycling.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maharishistore.com/pages/the-original-snopants-story?srsltid=AfmBOook6fisUsXtiPxfH9FtA2vd72BbKIBJQDGEpD987sFNq4JL8DWD|title=The Original Snopants® Story|website=Maharishi}} In their millennial round up Arena Magazine described Snopants as "the most copied pants of the decade".{{Cite web|url=https://www.sneakerfreaker.com/news/sf-interview-maharishi-founder-hardy-blechman/|title=SF Interview With Maharishi Founder Hardy Blechman - Industry News|first=Sneaker|last=Freaker|website=www.sneakerfreaker.com}}

Aside from upcycling, Maharishi produces many of its garments with natural fibres like hemp fabric and organic cotton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maharishistore.com/collections/organic-cotton?srsltid=AfmBOooCN6GTE4v-UacpCBoO76eZ0VtxelsnUBgNpsWXGoZLaEjQwQRd|title=Organic Cotton|website=Maharishi}}Blechman also developed the first waterproof hemp fabric with the Italian mill ITS Artea.

Maharishi incorporates artist collaborations into their collections, formalising this methodology as the "Guest Artist Program".{{Cite web|url=https://www.maharishistore.com/collections/art?srsltid=AfmBOoqnsSCRHwnrHBgtp6Fi9YR7e2rYwXflsyumrWml2TwAeFsIjuRS|title=Art|website=Maharishi}} The brand has worked 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.{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/6/maharishi-jean-michel-basquiat-collab-capsule-collection-lookbook-release-info|title=Maharishi Presents Full "Maha Basquiat" Collection|date=June 26, 2024|website=Hypebeast}}{{Cite web|url=https://hero-magazine.com/article/169082/maharishi-warhol|title=Maharishi celebrates Warhol's preoccupation with death|website=Hero}}{{Cite web|url=https://concrete.nl/blogs/news/rainbow-tagging-maharishi-x-irak-collection?srsltid=AfmBOooQSHrU7pvRIjk_7jV9_Bl9GMpOcbBWTX-mVsS9hX1z60FHzObu|title=Rainbow Tagging – MAHARISHI x IRAK Collection|website=Concrete}}{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2016/10/part-one-maharishi-t-shirts-graffiti-legend-series|title=maharishi Enlists Street Art Veteran PART ONE for Its Latest "Graffiti Legend Series"|date=October 19, 2016|website=Hypebeast}}

Blechman has collaborated with 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.missionmag.org/maharishi-to-release-collection-for-lupe-fiascos-iaido-club/|title=Maharishi To Release Collection For Lupe Fiasco's Iaidō Club|date=November 8, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/2/maharishi-everything-is-recorded-t-shirt|title=maharishi Celebrates Everything Is Recorded Album With Exclusive Tee|date=February 8, 2018|website=Hypebeast}}{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2016/4/travis-scott-maharishi-will-rich-la-flame-year-of-the-cowboy-jacket|title=maharishi Is Dropping the Custom Jacket It Made for Travis Scott|date=April 20, 2016|website=Hypebeast}}{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2021/6/mahapatchco-entertainers-tour-ma-1-jacket-kimono-collar-utility-smock-poncho-military-vietnam-war|title=MAHAPATCHCO. Honors Vietnam War Patch-Covered Jackets With "Entertainers Tour" Capsule|date=June 30, 2021|website=Hypebeast}}

Blechman has also worked as an artist, producing large embroidered canvases and sculptures shown at London's Riflemaker Gallery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riflemaker.org/Gavin%20Turk|title=Riflemaker Contemporary Art | The Riflemaker Gallery | Gavin Turk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.riflemaker.org/William-S-Burroughs|title=Riflemaker Contemporary Art | The Riflemaker Gallery ||website=www.riflemaker.org}} Blechman's art works explore similar themes to those expressed in his fashion designs, including camouflage and pacifism.{{Cite web|url=https://acclaimmag.com/art/interview-hardy-blechman/|title=From The Vault: Interview – Hardy Blechman|first=Meisy|last=Cheong|date=February 20, 2014|website=Acclaim Magazine}}