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Menswear Fashion Label by Lars Stoten

View recent Mjolk Collections on Australian Fashion Review Blog

Introduction to the Mjolk Fashion Label

“If only my arms were a lifeboat I could have held onto your heart…” – Mjolk

Directional designers Lars Stoten, Danmarks Design Skole graduate, and ex-Central St Martins College of Art and Design, John Clark, launched their fashion label ‘Mjolk’ in Southern Sweden in 2003. The following year, the Mjolk fashion label relocated to Australia as there was an opportunity to getting grants from the government if the clothing was manufactured in Australia. The Mjolk fashion label produced many seasonal collections in Australia, which were soon being sold throughout Europe and Japan. Unfortunately John and Lars could not make their professional relationship work, which led to the John moving on to pastures new and Lars taking full control of Mjolk.

Following the departure of John, Lars relocated to New York, taking his cult menswear label, Mjolk with him. The move saw the brand to go from strength and strength, and continue with its growth, which has included small capsule womenswear collections, a long-standing collaboration with the Topman Lens Project, a successful online boutique, a bespoke footwear service and several successful catwalk presentations. As of 2012, the Mjolk menswear collections were available in selected boutiques throughout the world, with a particularly strong following in Australia, Japan and the US.

Mjolk Fashion Label: Key Dates

• 2003: Fashion label ‘Mjolk’ is founded by John Clark and Lars Stoten in Sweden.
• 2004: The Mjolk fashion label relocates to Australian shore, where it really began to make its mark on the fashion industry.
• 2005: Mjolk shows at Melbourne Fashion Week for the first time with their Autumn/Winter 2005 collection.
• 2008: The Mjolk fashion label creates a capsule collection for Topshop as part of their Lens Project. This relationship with the Topman Lens Project has continued, with collections often selling out within days.
• 2009: Co-founder John Clark leaves the Mjolk fashion label for pastures new and Lars relocates to New York, taking the cult menswear brand with him. Also this year, the Mjolk label had its first showing at Paris Fashion Week, with a collection entitled ‘Camera for Eyes and Horses for Hearts’. Finally, Mjolk collaborates with Australian menswear retailer ‘Dirtbox’ on a line of dress shirts made from specially selected fabrics.
• 2011: The Mjolk online boutique is launched, which is described as ‘a curated space for all of designer Lars Stoten’s favourite thing. The online store features the full Mjolk mainline collection, as well as an exclusive assortment of hand-crafted good from around the world, including footwear from Italy and shoulder bags from New York City.
• 2012: Mjolk launches their bespoke footwear service, offering four signature hand-cobbled Italian leather shoe iterations, each of which is completely customisable – the customer can chose the leather, colour, piping, outsole and laces, offering a plethora of of colour combinations.

Aesthetic of the Mjolk Brand

Since inception the Mjolk fashion label has become well known for its exquisitely tailored collection made from the highest quality materials, with a clean cut and simple aesthetic. With looser silhouettes that emphasize proportion and colour, the most intriguing element of Stoten’s collections are the attention to detail.

It is the signature Mjolk aesthetic that has gained the brand a cult underground following throughout the world, with a strong following in the world of music. The brand has dressed the likes of British band Franz Ferdinand, Australian rockers Jet, Ben Lee and Grinspoon, and American disco queens Sciscor Sisters.

Visit the official Mjolk website, here.

If you like the look Mjolk, why not check out fellow Australian labels,  Chronicles of Never, Trimapee, Beat Poet and Saint Augustine Academy as well.

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