Why it belongs in ORBIS
Copenhagen fashion label founded in 1981 by designer and former dancer Jan Machenhauer; known for architecturally cut clothing in natural fabrics, produced and sewn locally in Copenhagen for over four decades.
Jan Machenhauer founded his eponymous Copenhagen label in 1981, following training at the Royal Danish Academy. His earlier background as a dancer informs the label's design language, centering on the relationship between shape and function; the resulting clothes have a sculptural, architecturally inspired quality. Production has stayed local: for more than 40 years, pieces have been designed and sewn in Copenhagen using natural fabrics. Machenhauer also co-founded the French scarf and knitwear house EPICE Paris with Bess Nielsen in 1999.