Skip to main content

History Repeating: Talking Menswear with Jenny Schwarz

Menswear designer Jenny Schwarz looks to the past to create awesome men’s clothing for the future. The ethos behind her eponymous brand calls for meticulous quality and craftsmanship fused with a rugged take on smart styling. The resulting collection is wearable and utterly unique.

Recommended Videos

Intrigued, we caught up with the London-based designer to find out more.

Can you talk me through the history of the brand?

My brand has its roots in 1930s Bavaria, with my great grandfather who was a bespoke tailor. He was also a bit of an adventurer so in his spare time he would scale the Alps often being the lead climber (which meant that he led the way for the other climbers securing the rope to the cliff face). He also loved his horse and was often found hacking through the woodland and if he wasn’t doing that he’d most likely be perilously flying down the mountain on a pair of wooden skis.

It is this strange dichotomy of the precise craftsman and the reckless explorer that ignited my interest in the man. I studied as an apprentice under the couture designer, Gabriele Blachnik in Germany and then went on to study Menswear at Central St Martins in London.

In 2011 I launched my brand which remains inspired by my great grandfather and his rugged elegance.

Johann climbing, Jenny Schwarz
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Do you think your Great Grandfather would approve of the collection?

I think my great grandfather would certainly approve of all my collections and I hope he would have worn the pieces also. I can totally imagine him in some of our heavier melton jackets, dangling off a cliff whilst contemplating the cut of his next customer’s suit. I still use the same elements of tailoring that he passed down to my grandfather so he would also recognise some of the same, traditional techniques.

Who is the Jenny Schwarz guy?

The Jenny Schwarz guy is a little ambiguous. He is of no particular age although he must have the confidence to pull off garments that stray from the norm. Our cut remains classic so he appreciates the history and tradition in our tailored pieces yet he wants something modern and intriguing from his clothes. He doesn’t necessarily want to stand out from the crowd. Instead, he will differentiate himself by the detail and the quality. Our guy is a little unpolished, a little elegant and a little rugged.

What’s your design process, from initial inspiration to finished garment?

The design process is not one that can easily be defined. Although we are constrained by the regular clockwork of a year’s seasons, we will pull inspiration from everywhere and anywhere compiling a huge patchwork of ideas that come to fruition when the time is right. We’re not particularly trend-led and that allows us to bypass some of the more obvious choices and stay fresh for the consumer. We might start with pages of sketches which will be fed by inspiration, research and our imagination. After dissecting, leaving for periods of time, revisiting and re-dissecting we will reveal some of the stronger pieces at the same time we’ll be discussing fabric textures and tones and piecing the puzzle together. More often than not, the collection will evolve right up until the last minute. It’s like a balancing act between texture, tone, weight, formality, informality, editorial, commercial and many more elements. Sometimes we’ll just have a feeling that something is missing or that we need to drop a piece.

Aside from your Great grandfather, who are your menswear icons?

I tend not to idolise that much and I’m often teased for not recognising very famous people. I love old films and the depiction of a romantic era that we seem to have discarded. I’m thinking of Cary Grant, of James Stewart and of Humphrey Bogart and a time when we dressed up to travel or to see a show. I want to bring that to the modern audience in my pieces whilst retaining the adventure of the characters these actors portrayed.

What’s next for the brand?

We’ve just finished a very exciting collaboration for our AW15 collection which we’ll be releasing in January 2015. It was a lot of fun to do and we have some amazing pieces and shots as a result. It’s quite hard to keep things like that quiet for so long and funny to think that we’re already designing pieces for SS16.

How do you plan to spend the holidays?

As we’re currently a couple of weeks away from our holiday break we’re in full action mode right up until the minute we stop. Then we’ll be heading to Cornwall for the holidays. I plan on splitting the time between watching 1940s Sherlock Holmes films in front of a fire clutching a cup of hot chocolate and brisk, wintery strolls on the wild Cornish beaches.

Jodie Kharas
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jodie Kharas is a style, art and culture writer who lives in London. She has contributed to the online platforms of POP…
The Nike Air Force 1 is down to just $60 — hurry!
The Nike Air Force 1 '07 on a white background.

With the holiday season just around the corner, now is an excellent time to buy Nike shoes as gifts, whether for your loved ones or for yourself. Here's an offer that you may find hard to refuse: The Nike Air Force 1 '07 with a 30% discount from Nike, which slashes its price to $80 from $115. However, if you sign up for an account and use the promo code TREATYOURSELF before the checkout process, you'll get another 25% off, bringing its price down to just $60 for total savings of $55. There's limited stock available for these shoes though, so you better hurry with your purchase if you're interested in this bargain.

Why you should buy the Nike Air Force 1 '07
The colorway of the Nike Air Force 1 '07 on sale features White, Thunder Blue, Dusty Cactus, and Racer Pink for a striking combination that's going to attract a lot of attention. The sneakers are also very comfortable to wear, so you won't mind being out for hours with them on, and they're durable so you don't have to be overly cautious while they're on your feet.

Read more
Danner, Madhappy add color and fun to your hiking shoe collection
Danner and Madhappy's new hiking shoe
back side view of pink and brown boots

For Danner's heritage boot brand, creating the ideal quality hiking boot is an everyday task. However, in their latest drop, the Pacific Northwest-based company is joining forces with Madhappy for a redesign that adds a pop of color to your hiking gear. In this collaboration, both brands are taking on the signature Mountain Light boot and giving it a bit of Madhappy’s touch. For Madhappy, working with iconic footwear brands is nothing new, as they’ve recently increased their collaboration with other classic companies like Uggs. Although hiking shoes tend to come in manageable hues to manage the dirt and mud, this collaborative boot is a fun contrast to the often serious color combinations available. A colorful and airy collaboration, the remixed Mountain Light boot is a must for those who want to add something distinct to the trails. 
The new Mountain Light boot

Starting with suede uppers in either chestnut or bright pink, this boot comes equipped with a one-leather piece design in the tongue to keep water and dirt out.  This Mountain Light’s stitchdown construction also helps add stability and structure to the underfoot. Inside waterproof Gore-Tex liners help keep the feet warm and comfortable while Vibram Kletterlift outsoles add traction to the boot. Besides announcing the new vibrant hues and modern updates on the boot, Danner has also proudly reiterated that all Mountain Light boots are constructed in Portland, Oregon. The new Madhappy and Danner Mountain Light boot is now available via both Danner and Madhappy web stores and retails at $440. Both colorways are available in men’s and women’s sizing so that all can enjoy the punch of color in their hiking wardrobe. 

Read more
Stylish warmth: The 5 kinds of light jackets every man needs
Stay warm and dry in the transition months
Man on a dock in a coat

There are no substitutions in your closet than the perfect light jacket to get you from the blistering summer to the frozen winter months. Between the time of year when it is warm enough that no coat is needed and the time of year when you need the heaviest you own, there are months when you need something a little lighter. There are five types of jackets that you should have in your closet that are versatile enough to keep you warm and dry no matter what the dress code is; here are our favorites and the best pics.
Military field jacket

The field jacket is one of the most iconic garments in the jacket lexicon, and you need to make sure there is one in your closet. Starting with the original design in 1941 as part of a combat uniform, it became a legendary piece for men in and out of uniform. Since then, you have likely seen it all over pop culture, including John Rambo's first appearance and on celebrities like John Lennon and Steve McQueen. Now, you can fit in with the legends when you buy your own. Our favorite choice is the James Canvas Military Jacket.

Read more