Osklen
Encyclopedia
Osklen is a Brazil
ian sportswear clothing company, owned and created in 1989 by Brazilian entrepreneur
Oskar Metsavaht.
enthusiasts decided to climb the Aconcagua
, the Americas' highest mountain. At the time, it was hard to find athletic clothing in Brazil that was suitable for extremely cold environments. Responding to this need, Oskar Metsavaht, a sports medicine
specialist and one of the mountain climbers, created the Storm Tech System, a fabric permeable to transpiration and protective against cold, and designed a range of snow jackets. The climbing was broadcast on TV, and the clothes became famous. Oskar Metsavaht gained further publicity when he became the first Brazilian to scale Mont Blanc
. Then, in 1989, Metsavaht founded the Osklen brand. The company opened its first store in Búzios, Rio de Janeiro
, offering a winter sportswear collection. Though the company started out selling cold-weather clothing in a warm-weather environment, in a few years, it expanded the product line into a 'lifestyle' fashion line that includes laid-back, surf-inspired aesthetics and an environmental focus.
In the 1990s, the Búzios store gained a reputation for innovative and high-quality clothing. In 1991, the company introduced Brazil to snowboarding fashions and designed a new coat line featuring high-technology. In 1992, the first Osklen fashion show
took place at the Golden Room of the Copacabana Palace hotel in Rio de Janeiro
where Metsavaht was given the 'Rio Sul Award' in the category, "Best Brazilian sportswear label." In 1996, Osklen introduced a surfwear collection. Oskar Metsavaht was invited by Chrysler
in 1997 to design a limited Osklen edition of the Jeep
Cherokee
. In 1999, Osklen launched a women's ready-to-wear
collection.
In 2001, the Andy Warhol Foundation
and the Coca-Cola Company invited Metsavaht to re-interpret some of Warhol's drawings in a Brazilian way. In 2002, with the help of biologists, Metsavaht created 'e-brigade', an educational group of environmental activists and launched an accompanying line of clothing made of recycled materials.
Metsavath, who has no formal training
in fashion design, designs the Osklen brand. He says he does not think of himself as a fashion designer, but as an artist who develops collections through a creative process, as if shooting a movie with Osklen's clothes serving as the costumes. He presents them each season with a specific lifestyle motto
(see below). Together with his brother Leonardo, a prominent Brazilian professor
and orthopedic surgeon
, Metsavaht directed and produced a film trilogy named 'Surfing the Mountains' about two brothers searching for the best snowboarding mountains in 2007 that also influenced his fashion designs.
Metsavaht and Osklen were featured in an episode of Brazil's Next Top Model in 2008 and also in America's Next Top Model Cycle 12 Episode 11. Metsavaht shows his collections at São Paulo Fashion Week.
These days, Osklen offers its merchandise through 41 stores in Brazil, three each in Portugal and Italy, and one each in the USA, Japan, and Switzerland. The company also sells through showrooms in Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and Portugal.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian sportswear clothing company, owned and created in 1989 by Brazilian entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
Oskar Metsavaht.
History
Osklen began operation in 1986, when a group of Brazilian snowboardingSnowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
enthusiasts decided to climb the Aconcagua
Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at . It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza and it lies west by north of its capital, the city of Mendoza. The summit is also located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province and 15 kilometres from the...
, the Americas' highest mountain. At the time, it was hard to find athletic clothing in Brazil that was suitable for extremely cold environments. Responding to this need, Oskar Metsavaht, a sports medicine
Sports medicine
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
specialist and one of the mountain climbers, created the Storm Tech System, a fabric permeable to transpiration and protective against cold, and designed a range of snow jackets. The climbing was broadcast on TV, and the clothes became famous. Oskar Metsavaht gained further publicity when he became the first Brazilian to scale Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
. Then, in 1989, Metsavaht founded the Osklen brand. The company opened its first store in Búzios, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, offering a winter sportswear collection. Though the company started out selling cold-weather clothing in a warm-weather environment, in a few years, it expanded the product line into a 'lifestyle' fashion line that includes laid-back, surf-inspired aesthetics and an environmental focus.
In the 1990s, the Búzios store gained a reputation for innovative and high-quality clothing. In 1991, the company introduced Brazil to snowboarding fashions and designed a new coat line featuring high-technology. In 1992, the first Osklen fashion show
Fashion show
A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made...
took place at the Golden Room of the Copacabana Palace hotel in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
where Metsavaht was given the 'Rio Sul Award' in the category, "Best Brazilian sportswear label." In 1996, Osklen introduced a surfwear collection. Oskar Metsavaht was invited by Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
in 1997 to design a limited Osklen edition of the Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
. In 1999, Osklen launched a women's ready-to-wear
Ready-to-wear
Ready-to-wear or prêt-à-porter is the term for factory-made clothing, sold in finished condition, in standardized sizes, as distinct from made to measure or bespoke clothing tailored to a particular person's frame. Off-the-peg is sometimes used for items which are not clothing.Ready-to-wear has...
collection.
In 2001, the Andy Warhol Foundation
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
and the Coca-Cola Company invited Metsavaht to re-interpret some of Warhol's drawings in a Brazilian way. In 2002, with the help of biologists, Metsavaht created 'e-brigade', an educational group of environmental activists and launched an accompanying line of clothing made of recycled materials.
Metsavath, who has no formal training
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
in fashion design, designs the Osklen brand. He says he does not think of himself as a fashion designer, but as an artist who develops collections through a creative process, as if shooting a movie with Osklen's clothes serving as the costumes. He presents them each season with a specific lifestyle motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
(see below). Together with his brother Leonardo, a prominent Brazilian professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and orthopedic surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, Metsavaht directed and produced a film trilogy named 'Surfing the Mountains' about two brothers searching for the best snowboarding mountains in 2007 that also influenced his fashion designs.
Metsavaht and Osklen were featured in an episode of Brazil's Next Top Model in 2008 and also in America's Next Top Model Cycle 12 Episode 11. Metsavaht shows his collections at São Paulo Fashion Week.
These days, Osklen offers its merchandise through 41 stores in Brazil, three each in Portugal and Italy, and one each in the USA, Japan, and Switzerland. The company also sells through showrooms in Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and Portugal.
Collections
Past fashion collections by Osklen:- Surfing the Mountains - Winter 2003
- Golden Spirit - Summer 2004
- SK8 - Winter 2004
- Vento - Summer 2005
- Austral - Winter 2005
- Rio de Janeiro - Summer 2006
- Surfing the Mountains - Himachal Expedition - Winter 2006
- Neotropical - Summer 2007
- Amazon Guardians - Winter 2007
- United Kingdom of Ipanema - Summer 2008
- Surfing the City - Winter 2008
- Monsoons - Summer 2009
- Rising - Winter 2009
- Samba - Summer 2010
- Tropic of Capricorn - Winter 2010
- Oceans- Summer 2011