OFFENSIVE Fashion launched in Spring 2020 to bring durable and stylish, feel-good apparel to the active man who likes to ask questions and provoke debate. Being made from Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificated fabric to ensure the least toxic process of manufacturing, the brand’s first collection of T-shirts and polos are inoffensive to the planet. The brand has chosen a talent who’s worked hard to get there to represent their latest launch — Pascal Wilke is a 23-year-old London-based model from Cologne, Germany, now debuting as OFFENSIVE’s brand ambassador.
Savant joined Pascal Wilke and the founders to discuss the launch of OFFENSIVE Fashion’s newborn conscious collection during a global pandemic, and what these challenging times might mean to the future of fashion. The team encourages people to stay positive (and stay home!) during the days the world’s shut off, adding that a good daily dose of humour surely helps to get through it all.
Words: Hanna-Amanda Pant
Image: OFFENSIVE Fashion / Model: Pascal Wilke / Photography: @JordanneDesigns
In a nutshell, what informed the creation of your own clothing line OFFENSIVE? What's the main message or social mission you'd like to pass along with it?
Offensive Fashion (O.F): There were two factors that led to the formation of OFFENSIVE Fashion. The first was difficulty in finding comfortable, responsibly made men’s clothing of superlative quality. The second was spotting a gap in the market: clothing for the man who is consistently "Out there, On The Offensive” and working hard to succeed in life whilst also having fun — the guy who questions life, has a sense of humour, and will start a conversation about his provocatively labelled garment. Merging these two ideas created the brand — one that’s made for men (mostly) with a lust for life, but who also treats their physical and social environment with respect.
It’s an interesting time we’re going through now. I’m wondering how it resonates with your collection launch. Uncertainty and fear of the future are present all around the world, as COVID-19 paints a rather grim sociocultural background. Why should we pay more attention to sustainability now and support clothing lines focusing on more ethical production?
O.F: COVID-19 is a natural disaster that is impacting everyone globally. We think the world will never look the same. Globalization itself is in question. But when we come out of this crisis, we will have better systems in place, and psychologically, we will be more resilient. Men and women alike will feel like they are ‘on the offensive again’ — ready to appreciate the good things the world has to offer, and to take on whatever the world throws at us. This crisis has been a great leveller. Our health is our wealth.
Of course, we have seen ‘fast fashion’ which is offensive to our planet being rejected out of a growing awareness of how we humans are negatively impacting our environment. The popularity of the Stacey Dooley documentary on the BBC is case in point. Yet, we all still see adverts for ultra cheap clothing which simply cannot be made ethically.
“Supporting companies like ours with a focus on sustainability will improve the way we treat our environment and link back to their own wellbeing.”
Image: OFFENSIVE Fashion / Model: Pascal Wilke / Photography: @JordanneDesigns
Nature has given us some very strong signals that the way we live and consume is simply not sustainable: recent bushfires, floods and droughts have devastated wildlife and human societies in the past 12 months more than ever before. This crisis will prove how vulnerable some groups of people are, and we will have to take tough ethical decisions about whether to use surveillance to check if people are sick versus protecting privacy.
Whilst there's been a growing trend for wellbeing and products that literally ‘don't cost the Earth’, in the wake of COVID-19, I have concerns that ‘saving the planet’ may be pushed aside. Fashion has to step up, given it is responsible for around 13% of global emissions. At OFFENSIVE, we use Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certificated fabric, ensuring the least toxic process of manufacturing, as well as real comfort and peace of mind for the wearer.
Their production ensures staff are treated fairly, adhering to all relevant regulations. As such, they have partnered with producers who are part of Fashion Revolution which has a 10-point manifesto promising products are produced according to ‘stringent ethical manufacturing and trading policies’ with all factories are ‘regularly audited to ensure all local labour, health and safety laws are adhered to.’
We urge consumers to consider not just the product they wish to buy, but the processes by which it was made. Supporting companies like ours with a focus on sustainability will improve the way we treat our environment and link back to their own wellbeing.
Image: OFFENSIVE Fashion / Model: Pascal Wilke / Photography: @JordanneDesigns
I believe humour is helping to save the world right now, as there are so many memes circulating all over and people are getting more and more creative with indoor activities. What is the funniest thing you have experienced (directly or indirectly) during the current world situation and lockdown?
Pascal Wilke (P.W): There are many creative ideas flowing around right now, some are very funny; but the one that comes immediately to mind is Jesus holding the loo roll aloft to his disciples which seems particularly apt to this Holy Week. I heard the United Nations issued a global callout to creators around the world to submit design, music, art, that will spread the right health messages on social distancing, and help with myth busting etc.
What helps you to remain calm and hopeful during these confusing times? What is the role community plays in your life right now / where do you find support?
P.W: A beer (or two) towards the end of the day offers me personally, a beacon of hope (I am German of course!). I have also been taking a few drops of @lady_a_cbd tincture since helping out with their launch — I find it takes the edge off anxieties. I am in lockdown with two children who keep me physically busy outside during the day and mentally alert via board games in the evening.
In what direction do you see fashion shifting after the current world situation? Do you think fashion producers will finally take action and implement some crucial changes toward the way they operate?
P.W: I think what will fundamentally change is the way in which clothes are sold — people will always want new fashion and fashion needs models and ambassadors to promote it, it’s the vehicles for sale that will change. InOFFENSIVE to the planet is the way to go!
“Nature has given us some very strong signals that the way we live and consume is simply not sustainable: recent bushfires, floods and droughts have devastated wildlife and human societies in the past 12 months more than ever before.”
Image: OFFENSIVE Fashion / Model: Pascal Wilke / Photography: @JordanneDesigns
Other than having the benefit of 'saving the planet', how does OFFENSIVE Fashion offer value to the wearer?
O.F: Value comes in many forms. When designing our products, the key consideration was quality and comfort. Aspects of the designs, such as the double layer embroidery and the fabric stretch, provides comfortable wear. In addition, the high-quality fabric used removes the ‘itchy, scratchy’ feel some fabrics in ‘fast fashion’ give the wearer. The slight stretch in the fabric allows it to flow with the wearer, and not disrupt their natural movements. Comfort through design is something we value highly.
Value also comes in the aesthetics of the clothing: our T-shirts and polos are cut with a slight taper in the torso. This helps the garment skim the body in a flattering manner, ensuring the wearer looks as good as the garment feels. The use of neutral colours in the main fabric allows flexibility when pairing with other garments, whether that be jeans, chinos, swimmers or your favourite joggers. Such versatile colour schemes remove the need to think too hard about what you can wear them with, and adds mileage to the list of wardrobe combinations available to you.
Combined with the high quality fabric, these garments are designed to be durable: ours are not fast fashion garments that will lose shape, colour, style or function after a few wears. They are made to look and feel good, wear after wear. This use of durable fabric was essential in the design process to ensure these garments remain a wardrobe staples. For the customer, they can purchase in confidence knowing the garments are not just stylish but also durable. Our mantra is: buy less, care more. The reduced need to replace our garments saves the customer money, long-term. The average garment is only worn 14 times before it is binned, so an added benefit is that our customers are not contributing to shameful mountain-high landfills.
“On a more serious note, social distancing, closed retail outlets and reduced peer pressure to have multiple looks in a day will probably see consumers turning to quality over quantity, comfort over short term trends, in all aspects of life.”
Image: OFFENSIVE Fashion / Model: Pascal Wilke / Photography: @JordanneDesigns
Lockdown fashion has been directed by fashionable face masks, matching lounge wear, quirky slippers and many other curious fashion trends. What's your opinion, how will these lockdown trends evolve post Corona?
O.F: To be honest, this isn't just for "downtime" — there's been a shift from formal to informal clothing in all areas of life: work, leisure and evening wear. The increased rise of athleisure wear — in all price brackets — confirms this. In response to COVID-19, with more people working from home there's less reason to "dress to impress": with no co-workers or clients to impress, people will increasingly reach for comfortable clothing. Joggers and polos are great for combining comfort with a bit of style. The fashion-conscious are dreaming up fun and clever ways to keep their "normal" going: from using old blankets to make facemasks, duvets as dresses and entertaining us all in our bored isolation. The model Conor McKenzie brightened up 1000's of bored and isolated people recently with his fashion show of how to wear a velvet blanket in multiple ways!
On a more serious note, social distancing, closed retail outlets and reduced peer pressure to have multiple looks in a day will probably see consumers turning to quality over quantity, comfort over short term trends, in all aspects of life. This will be a good thing in helping people feel better about themselves and more comfortable in their own environment. Investing in good quality, well fitting, durable clothing will facilitate wellbeing in the home and the environment.
What's your go-to line of encouragement you'd like to send out to people right now?
P.W: Just stay at home guys! This is a small price to pay for a better life — or rather as many better lives possible — later.
OFFENSIVE Fashion’s first collection of Polos and T-shirts are available now via the online store