The Munich lifestyle magazine VIVA MONACO presents DORNSCHILD and its men’s vests as a modern fashion statement in an interview with founder Jörn Boysen.
VIVA MONACO – Hello Jörn Boysen, thank you for taking the time for this interview. How would you describe the philosophy of your company in a few sentences?
JB: We at DORNSCHILD believe strongly in values that are timeless and detached from imposed trends and short-livedness. As a pure premium men’s label, important attributes such as charming, cosmopolitan, stylish, self-confident, sophisticated and respectful from the gentleman’s world therefore also play a role for us. Not in a conservative way, but always paired with a natural and masculine nonchalance.
VIVA MONACO – I’m also interested in an insight into your design philosophy and how you apply it to your products. Can you tell us something about this?
JB: Design is the signature of every brand, which is why everything from this direction comes authentically from me and my business partner, Michael Ostermayer. We don’t intentionally try to pick up on any trends, but rather reinvent ourselves and our styles with attention to detail and variety from season to season. So we surprise with and from our product, and not because it is currently trendy.
VIVA MONACO – Not all men’s vests are the same. What sets you apart from other labels on the market? What makes your vests special?
JB: Oh yes, vests have been around for centuries. Nobly worn by kings, elegantly staged by aristocrats, to in rougher and cooler form for cowboys. Since the beginning of the 20th century, it is almost only known as a component of the suit, the so-called three-piece, but thereby also strongly fallen into the background. With our founding in 2013, we wanted to put the topic of vests modern and yet timeless in a new fashion light for the world of men. We developed numerous cuts and prototypes, laid out like a “jacket without sleeves”, and meticulously tweaked every millimeter to create the perfect cut for different body types. In terms of fit, our vests are cut narrower and more masculine, but also longer for larger men, all of which, and ultimately after a lot of hard work, we succeeded in doing very well. Only the finest Italian fabrics are used in our men’s vests, but they are not used as such in suits or jackets, and lining backs as well as plastic buttons are taboo for us. We offer numerous cuts with many details, whether single-breasted with or without collar, smart double-breasted, casual hooded vests, chic tuxedo to cool biker vests.
VIVA MONACO – Where do you find your inspiration for your men’s vests?
JB: If you walk through life attentively and positively, there are countless impulses that inspire you. As a creative person, you soak up snapshots that come from architecture, art, music, nature, but also from encounters with special people. People who, with their stories and their attitude to life, trigger something in you and make you think.
VIVA MONACO – Quality seems to be the number one priority for your own products. Could you tell us something about your product range and your favorite piece from it?
JB: That’s right, high quality is our top priority. It starts with our handpicked fabric and material selection and continues through every manufacturing process. Every year we design a Spring/Summer and an Autumn/Winter collection consisting of about 18-20 different vest models. In the warmer seasons we use the finest cotton and cotton-linen blends, and in the cooler seasons we use fine cotton, virgin wool to cashmere blends, all sourced from Italy. My favorite vest varies depending on my mood and style. Sometimes I like it fancier, and other times more casual and sporty. I often get asked about vests that we brought out years ago, which makes me very happy and shows how time-independent our vests make an impression.
VIVA MONACO – Picking up on the theme of quality and attention to detail, can you tell us where and how you manufacture your products and what you pay particular attention to?
JB: Exceptional design is made up of numerous components and details that only come to light when you take a closer look, try them on and combine them – whether it’s the up-close feel of the fine fabrics, the various outer and inner pockets, the high-quality and colorful lining fabric, from which we offer a free pocket square with every vest, to the precision-fit cuts. Cuts that fit close to the body, conceal weak points if necessary and emphasize the body in a masculine way. If you have found your size with us, this size runs through all models to the millimeter.
Article: VIVA MONACO magazine, October 2021