Max Olijnyk. A man with a great photography blog and an even better denim label. Note to Self is, in his own words, "inspired by friends and cohorts, with styles of jeans named after their initiators".
The ex-Schwipe designer "designs and makes jeans for people to fit their bodies and personal requirements. For example, someone’s legs may be a different shape to regular jeans. Or, they may want an extra panel sewn into the seat so they don’t blow out from riding their bike. Sometimes they just want navy stitching. Armed with these ideas and challenges, we work together and come up with something special. When I make a pair I’m especially happy with and know people will like, I take them into production. Using beautiful denim sourced directly from Japanese mills, high quality trims and a great local manufacturer, the end result is a collection of really, really good jeans that improve with age and suit every type of person. As long as they’re amazingly clever".
We spoke to Max about film festivals, the future, Iris Murdoch, Supertramp and the Go Betweens.
UHH — What's been keeping you busy lately?
Max — I've been busy getting my next range together. Sourcing fabrics, local makers, getting patterns done. Production is the less glamorous side of running a label, but I actually enjoy it. It's all about the details after all, and it's easy to miss things if you're in a rush or get things made cheap overseas. Aside from that, the Melbourne Film Festival has just finished, so I saw a few really good films as part of that. I've been skating a bit, writing heaps, and I went to the snow last weekend, which was amazing! So surreal.
UHH — How is Note to Self going? And how would you describe the aesthetic of the label for the uninitiated?
Max — It's going really well. I just do small ranges of really simple, basic styles, using Japanese denims and a local maker. I design and make all the samples myself, which helps me come up with ideas and understand possibilities for cutting the fabric, fitting the jean and extra features. But what I really like are comfortable, simple clothes that age well. I'll be expanding the range a bit soon, but don't get too excited, it might just be to include tailored pants as well as jeans. Maybe shirts one day soon too.
UHH — What's been inspiring you lately? Films, books, art, people, music, magazines …
Max — French people looked cool in the '60s! I love Godard films, Woody Allen and comedy like Brass Eye, Big Train. I’ve been reading Iris Murdoch, Severed Head - how good is Iris? Funny, twisted, dark stuff. I also have a copy of the new Dave Eggers. I know, predictable, right? We're all programming ourselves with the same stuff, but at least it's good! Recently, I saw some paintings by Louise Hearman that literally made me gasp, they are so beautiful, and Thobias Faldt's 581c book is amazing.
Mostly though, I’m inspired by my friends. My friend Sam is hilarious. And Dr. Jay - the unortho-doc. And Scottie! And Penny. And who can forget Milo and Fia? They're all on my blog.
I’ve been enjoying music by the 13th Floor Elevators, Broken Social Scene, Liam Finn, God Help the Girl, Beatles, Supertramp ... you know, sad white guy music.
I’ve been reading any skate mag for a quick fix, Doingbird, Huge, Mx. Shit, I'll read anything. For skateboarding, the Berrics website is pretty much killing it, apart from the Scientology factor, as is Crailtap.
UHH — We love championing Australian design and art. Who is your favourite Australian creative figure, past or present?
Max — How good were the Go-betweens? Shit, they were good. Laconic, tender, trendy, pop, vulnerable, tough. And from Brisbane!
— for more info, see: http://notetoself.com.au/
