Give us the elevator pitch for Makhmadim.
Makhmadim is if Luigi Colani did Stone Island.
The Five W’s
Who is Makhmadim for?
Makhmadim is for people who appreciate function and practicability just as much as they love weird and quirky designs. We serve as a bridge between those two contexts.
What is Makhmadim’s main message?
Satisfying needs in more desirable ways.
When was Makhmadim created?
Initially, Makhmadim started as a bedroom project when we were 13 and 15 years old. We started with a name that led to a big grocery chain suing us. It began as a design research project, reworking different garments, especially denim, and eventually evolved into what Makhmadim is today.
“For us, restaurants and the experience of eating have always been a central part of our dearest memories since childhood, and we want our clothes to be associated with that context.”
Where are people wearing Makhmadim?
Hopefully everywhere. Our ultimate goal is to dress people for visits to their favorite restaurants with their loved ones. For us, restaurants and the experience of eating have always been a central part of our dearest memories since childhood, and we want our clothes to be associated with that context. This is also the reason why we shot our Fall/Winter 2025 editorial in a restaurant kitchen, which we named “Entrée.”
Why was Makhmadim created?
My parents were antique dealers when I was young, and Gustav’s father was a historian. As kids, we naturally gravitated towards spending our free time visiting flea markets and antique shops. Our shared obsession with weird objects brought us together. At some point, Gustav found a sewing machine, and we thought, “Why not give it a try?” Someone may also find the things we make enjoyable.
About the Brand
Your website’s about page notes that Makhmadim derives its name from the ancient Hebrew term for “beautiful things.” What prompted this name selection?
We are big fans of the painter Marc Chagall, and Makhmadim was the name of a magazine he created while exiled in Paris.
“The key to creating interesting yet wearable garments is to focus on either fabric treatment or shape.”
Makhmadim strikes a balance between uniqueness and versatility. What is your approach to finding this sweet spot?
We always start by looking for inspiration in classic garments, mostly from work or military attire. Garments that have stood the test of time always rely on outstanding construction and functionality that seem familiar to the viewer. Additionally, the key to creating interesting yet wearable garments is to focus on either fabric treatment or shape. Overdesign can ruin great ideas.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everyday objects and clothing designed for specific use cases. Sometimes it’s an umbrella, at other times it is an over-engineered military jacket found at a flea market or a costume archive.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since launching Makhmadim?
We have learned that it’s not about one item that speaks to many people, but rather the ensemble of the many garments that carry our vision into the world.
Makhmadim’s Fall/Winter 2025 “Entrée” collection has just arrived. What inspired this range?
Our first collection is special as it didn’t involve any planning. All of the garments came to life individually to serve their unique purpose. It’s a collage of the many things that we love, which is why it embodies our vision at its core.
Sustainability is a priority for Makhmadim. Can you describe your commitment to this?
Sustainability shouldn’t be the core of any brand, as it should always be implicit. We strive to minimize our ecological footprint by working primarily with deadstock fabric suppliers and keeping our entire supply chain within Europe.
However, sustainability goes beyond that for us. It is also behavioral. We create garments with longevity in mind, encouraging a more conscious approach to consumption. True sustainability means creating garments that have purpose.
“True sustainability means creating garments that have purpose.”
Which Makhmadim design do you find yourself wearing the most?
As of now, anything we can get our hands on. We end up selling most garments before we can grab any for ourselves. Nowadays, we often find ourselves wearing our own samples, especially the sweats, as they are perfectly comfortable for everyday life.
What’s your favorite thing that you’ve created with Makhmadim so far?
The shirting is special to us and encapsulates best what we wish to make in the future as we continue to explore more sophisticated styles within our design language.
Laser perforation is something we especially enjoy experimenting with, not just for shirting, but for most other garments as well. We have been developing our techniques for a while now, as they allow us to create patterns that are modular and customizable by the wearer, simply by changing the garment underneath.
How do you hope people feel when wearing Makhmadim?
We want people to feel confident and excited while wearing our clothes without having the constant fear of dressing like you’re taking yourself too seriously. Our nuanced playfulness is often apparent on second sight as opposed to being the center of attention.
What’s next for Makhmadim?
We continually strive to evolve and learn the craft of making clothes. With each collection, we learn a great deal and broaden our horizons.
We are collaborating with various laboratories across Europe and continue to learn a great deal from them, which is a key driving force for us: learning and improvement.
We hope to share this knowledge with as many people as possible, particularly those who also value the art of craftsmanship.
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