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DPM - Disruptive Pattern Material


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i saw this book (well, there's actually 2 books) and was blown away. everything you would ever need to know about camouflage. the whole package is so heavy you could use it to beef up for the summer, and contains so much information & photos that it will take you at least 2 years to get through it all. the first book focuses on the history and origins of all different types of camouflage. the second (and significantly larger) book contains all manner of graffiti/advertising/fashion/music/etc etc references & photos that are even slightly camouflage related. a seven year labour of love that is of unsurpassed quality and a must have for anybody with a brain and a coffee table.

 

here's some snippets/blurbs/reviews and whatnot i could find about it online:

 

 

Maharishi DPM Book

 

Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) is a brand new publication from Maharishi. It's the result of 6 years research into the world of camouflage and is truly an incredible product. But you want to know best part? Well it's got to be the full page spread of some Protein° DPM Betabottles™ we designed up in 2003. See them here ...

 

This awesome DPM "bible" contains over 5,000 images, many of which are previously unpublished, including work from some of the world's leading nature, military, and fashion photographers and archives such as National Geographic, Imperial War Museum, Steven Klein, Nick Knight, and Albert Watson.

 

Featured are depictions of camo-clad cultural icons such as Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, U2, Notorious BIG, Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, Ali G, and Joe Strummer.

 

The 'Nature' section sets out the camouflage phenomena that have evolved in animals and plants over thousands of years and is beautifully illustrated with pictures of organisms disappearing into their natural habitats.

 

This is followed by an in-depth study of the development of camouflage and deception tactics used by the military in warfare with particular emphasis on the role that artists played in translating camouflage colouration and disruptive patterns from the natural world to the uniforms and machineries of war.

 

DPM incorporates the most extensive guide to official military camouflage patterns ever published with details of the past and present camouflage uniforms of 107 nations around the world.

 

DPM, also for the first time in print, thoroughly documents the rise of camouflage outside of the armed forces in the work of fashion designers, painters, sculptors, graffiti artists, graphic designers, costumiers, architects, musicians, film stars, toy designers, and many others.

 

In this third 'Culture' section, an account is given of the history of the influence of military styling on civilian clothing and how camouflage has been elevated from the surplus market to the collections of high fashion houses. The fashion pages feature camouflage garments by the likes of: Maharishi, A Bathing Ape, Supreme, Stussy, w)taps, Adidas, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Comme des Garcns, Dolce & Gabbana, Richard James, Roberto Cavalli, Stone Island and of course, Protein°.

 

Like the sound of it? Buy yours now in the Protein° Store ... (UK)

 

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Disruptive pattern Material

Maharishi

 

Maharishi’s Creative Director, Hardy Blechman has been extremely influential in the proliferation of camouflage and combat trousers (or Snopants) in civilian fashion over the past decade. Now, after six years of intensive research, he reveals the depth of his exploration into the vast world of camouflage in his magnum opus: DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material). DPM is an encyclopaedic art book that charts the history of camouflage from its roots in nature, through to its adoption by the military, and on to its current popularity and use within modern civilian culture. Divided into two books totalling 944 pages, no other title offers such comprehensive coverage of this multi-faceted and highly engaging subject.

 

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a little bit about their store:

 

DPMHI

 

From the creators of Maharishi and mhi, ladies and gents: dpmhi. BLAG got some inside information from Hardy Blechman...

 

What's your philosophy behind the store?

dpmhi = a store, gallery and website representing mhi, DPM, toys, books and sneakers. There is a strong emphasis on the themes of camouflage, design and street culture.

 

GPS_interior_10.jpg

 

Describe the dpmhi store in the following categories:

a) The look and style

The building was completely redesigned and remodelled by French architect Francois Scali. He took out sections of the floor to create voids and allow space for mezzanines, resulting in the increase of natural light and overall floor space. Camouflage features strongly in the interior design, with a mosaic floor in maharishi's 'Bonsai Forest' house camouflage pattern.

 

b) The atmosphere

The atmosphere is laid back and more relaxed than your typical boutique.

 

c) Key products on sale

The full men’s and women’s mhi collections, the DPM book (a 944 page encyclopaedic art book that charts the history of camouflage) as well as Michael Lau toys, select sneakers and vintage camouflage pieces.

 

What is your personal favourite product on sale in the store, and why?

Aside from the mhi collection it would have to be the Honda Zoomer motorbikes, they have such a great design and no one else has them in Europe (at least until Honda catch up and release them in 2005).

 

 

What makes dpmhi different from other stores?

Lots of exclusive product that you won't find anywhere else… Unique architecture that sparks the imagination… Gallery space that showcases the work of guest artist collaborators.

 

Tell us about the neighbourhood, and why you chose to be situated in the area?

It was logical as not only was the neighbourhood right but, more importantly, the building was right. The building was an open canvas that maharishi/mhi could lend its own identity to. The store is the on lower two levels of the building with new offices/showrooms on the three floors above. It has created an image for the company. The neighbourhood is not your typical commercial shopping area but has an interesting feel to it. It is the centre for the media/film industry in London with more and more boutique-style stores opening in the area

 

Any recommendations for our Christmas Present lists?

The DPM book – the most comprehensive book of camouflage ever published (available from the store or online).

There’s also the first product by mahatoys, (a company dedicated to releasing non-violent toys) – it’s a 1:6-scale skip in which to discard weaponry from your collection of 12" action figures.

If you’re very lucky, Father Christmas might bring you one of only 1000 pairs made of the DPM x Nike Terminator sneaker. This is some exclusiveness! Released in November, the shoe features the white tonal colour way of the DPM ‘Bonsai Forest’ camouflage and the word ‘NIKE’ emblazoned in high visibility orange on the back.

 

Images: DPM book and store interior © Maharishi 2004

 

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DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material – An Encyclopedia of Camouflage: Nature, Military and Culture

 

Before I read this book, I must confess my knowledge of camouflage or "Disruptive Pattern Material" (D.P.M.) was pretty limited. Nothing could have prepared me for the depth that this volume goes into. I say ‘volume’ as opposed to book, because this 944 page behemoth is exhaustive.

 

DPM has been split into two separate books – one covering the military clothing of the 107 nations that clothe their armies in camouflage and a book containing every other reference to the concept. The first book, written by Hardy Blechman, begins with several introductions to different concepts and mindsets regarding camouflage. The introductory sections raise some very interesting issues regarding colour theory – for example, the idea of how green is so easy on the eye due to its central position on the colour spectrum.

 

These sections also reveal a considerable amount about Hardy Blechman, the man behind this book. Blechman comes across as obsessed with all things military; and he seems to be on a mission to reclaim camouflage from the army and put it in the hands of civilians for general fashion wear. Well, it is simply a textile pattern after all. This first section also makes reference to the history of the word camouflage and contains a number of entries written by experts in the field of colour analysis regarding patterns and their ability to confuse the eye. There are also numerous references to Maharishi and Mhi, the two fashion labels that Hardy Blechman runs. Whilst this is fair to a point, as they are relevant in today’s commercial use of camouflage, it does sometimes feel like self-promotion.

 

Leafing through the book you come across many subjects that you might not immediately associate with D.P.M: photos of toys from various eras adorned with camouflage, and work by countless graphic artists who have used the patterns in their work. A large section of the book is dedicated to nature and to all the many creatures whose survival is reliant on their ability to blend into the background. The entire volume is packed with high quality colour photographic reproductions.

 

All the countries around the world that use D.P.M in the uniforms of their armed forces are given a page or two in this book. It’s fascinating seeing the difference between, say, Sweden and China, (the Swedish patterns are quite wonderful) and being able to appreciate the different approaches adopted by different nations at various times in their histories. The book comes with a view finder (a piece of card with a square hole cut in it) for viewing the pattern in its purest form, for blocking out the surrounding images. This is standard technique in textiles, and it’s nice to see it included here.

 

The internet is fast becoming a replacement for reference books, but it is in such specialist fields that they can maintain a foothold – so much of the information contained in these two books is simply not available elsewhere. As I have already stated, Blechman is obsessive about his subject and the resulting work is both impeccably researched and unbelievably comprehensive, encompassing everything from Andy Warhol to the work of 15th Century linguists. This book has been seven years in the making and it shows.

 

 

 

 

 

© 2002 Pixelsurgeon Creative Consultants Ltd. All rights reserved

 

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