Armor for the Soul / MXDVS

In conversation with MXDVS.

Max Reynders’ MXDVS— a deliberate rejection of the sanitized aesthetics that dominate contemporary culture. Since its inception in 2015, the brand has walked the razor’s edge between art and rebellion, carving a space where design becomes an act of defiance. Reynders’ vision dismantles the triviality of fast fashion, replacing it with garments imbued with poetry, philosophy, and the weight of unspoken narratives.
For MXDVS, black is not just a color but a dialect—a means of communicating tension, vulnerability, and strength.

What sets MXDVS apart is its ability to fuse the brutal with the tender, while creating designs that feel intimate and protective. Its pieces act as wearable fortresses, empowering the wearer to confront a world oversaturated with curated personas and superficial connections. Yet, beneath the militant silhouettes and stark imagery lies a profound sense of introspection.
For Reynders, MXDVS is a deeply personal endeavor, rooted in a lifelong fascination with the power of symbolism and the allure of the anti-hero. It’s a brand born from resistance—not only to societal norms but to the transient and disposable nature of mainstream fashion. With its independent production model and radical commitment to timelessness, MXDVS offers an antidote to the unsustainable churn of trends, prioritizing depth and craftsmanship over fleeting relevance.

MXDVS is radical, raw, and disruptive. What drove you to create a brand that feels like a manifesto against conventional aesthetics rather than a mere fashion label?

When I started at the end of 2015, creating yet another brand that simply slapped a logo on a hoodie felt far too easy. For me, it is essential to craft meaningful artworks—pieces layered with depth and poetry. Everyone who supports MXDVS deserves my full dedication in every design I create.

Your designs evoke a brutal, post-apocalyptic ethos. What role does confrontation—be it with tradition, society, or personal identity—play in shaping your creative vision?

I make pieces I love wearing myself. Black is our canvas—it doesn’t impose happiness, and it wasn’t always welcome in streetwear. Growing up, I was drawn to Yohji Yamamoto and Ann Demeulemeester, who made black a statement. The common thread lies in the use of certain symbols and imagery, challenging social matters through integration into my design language and therefore creating a post-apocalyptic ethos. Other topics lay close to my heart, like our t-shirt with the word ‘Einzelgänger’, which refers to being a ‘loner’.

MXDVS pieces feel like wearable fortresses. How do you see your designs protecting or empowering the wearer in today’s world of hyper-visibility and curated personas?

Confidence. That’s what they give. Clothing is a part of someone’s identity—our pieces help you see that identity more clearly. Whether it’s through silhouette, poetry, or design, they’re bricks and mortar for your wardrobe. Tools to express yourself.

The fashion industry is under fire for its environmental impact. How does MXDVS reconcile its radical ethos with the urgent demand for sustainability? Is there power in rejecting or reinventing the idea of “fast fashion”?

We make everything we can in our own atelier with our own seamstresses. We’re not chasing trends—that’s what kills creativity and sustainability. My goal for each piece is to create something timeless. At least the attempt is necessary for me. We produce as much as possible in Belgium, having two STOLL knitting machines in-house, which allows us to avoid mass production. If something about MXDVS is radical, it’s the attempt to not be bound by time. This is sustainability to me.

MXDVS exists in a space where fashion intersects with rebellion. How do you ensure the brand stays authentic to its underground roots while gaining mainstream traction?

We create niche products for niche minds.

Our work challenges and provokes, and we put it in settings that keep us away from the mainstream. We’ve shipped over 60,000 orders worldwide and collaborated with Junya Watanabe, and still, only one Belgian magazine has given us a platform—just once in 9 years. They fear what they don’t understand. That’s why we’ll always be the black sheep. We don’t choose to be underground—the underground exists because the mainstream refuses to embrace it.

Your collections exude strength but also hint at a raw vulnerability. Is there a duality in your designs—a tension between dominance and exposure?

I love the poetry behind “The Bravest Heart Beats Soft for Kindness.” It’s about redefining manliness—bringing strength and sensitivity together. You see it in our visuals: the bold, militant energy balanced with tenderness. Creating a narrative that speaks to the complexities of human emotion and identity.

MXDVS is often described as militant or warlike in its approach. If your clothing is armor, who or what is the fight against? Is it a critique of consumerism, patriarchy, or something more personal?

For me, it’s personal. As a kid, I was obsessed with action figures and villains in games and movies. They didn’t just look empowered—they embodied a whole character. I want MXDVS pieces to do the same thing. Clothes let you become whoever you want to be. That’s the greatest kind of freedom, and I want my customers to feel that.

What unseen forces—be they art, music, or movements—fuel the MXDVS aesthetic?

Flea Markets and everyday objects: I visit one or two flea markets every week. One man’s trash is another’s treasure. There are many unique and cool objects in these places that fuel as an inspiration for our design philosophy. Deconstructing these conceptually and visually is an exercise I enjoy the most. Also, simply walking around the city can spark countless inspirations. In fall 2024, we launched our furniture collection @objects.maxreynders, where we translate this one-to-one.

Collaboration in the fashion world often feels like compromise. How do you navigate creative partnerships without diluting MXDVS’s distinct identity?

If we can’t execute the vision the way we see it, the collaboration won’t happen. We have a strong vision, and it’s important that we can execute it in this manner. When Junya Watanabe’s team reached out to us, we asked in advance how much freedom we would have. Their only requirement was that it was fully manufactured in a Belgian atelier. We are an independent brand without any mother company investing in us. This also means we have full creative freedom and are not bound to board members who are only interested in profit.

MXDVS is blazing a trail that defies tradition. Are you building a legacy, or is the goal to burn it all down and redefine the landscape entirely? What does success look like for a brand that thrives on defiance?

Success for MXDVS means challenging people’s minds through unconventional topics and provocative visuals. But my creative landscape extends beyond the brand. Earlier this year, I launched Objects, and I’m now developing a new, mature fashion project: GMR (Garments by Max Reynders). It’s a continuation of the story—evolving while staying true to what brought us here.

Armor for the Soul / MXDVS

Brand: MXDVS / @mxdvs
Designer: Max Reynders / @max.reynders
Interview: Elena Murratzu / @elena.murratzu
Editor: Anca Macavei / @ancamacavei

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