Was everything better in the past? Of course not. But not everything was bad either. At least that is what Belgian Christelle Loozen thinks. Her brand "1971" is dedicated to the timeless style elements of the 70s - and brings them back to life with a sustainable touch.
1971 is not only the name of this Belgian brand, but also the year its founder was born. It's no wonder that this year is associated with all kinds of positive memories for Christelle Loozen. "It's about friends, rock music and motorcycles - the passion for authenticity is important," the entrepreneur sums up the claim of 1971. The brand's products are intended to reflect the spirit of optimism and the possibilities of the early 70s, a time when things were still colorful and optimistic. The motto: A dash of optimism can only do good in the future.
In the case of 1971, the men's clothing items are the bearers of this positive attitude: chinos, sweaters, polo shirts. They embody an understated elegance that is more reminiscent of well-dressed northern Italy than Belgium, and that is exactly what is intended. The quiet nonchalance of the scooter boys, the unobtrusive sense of style of the Ivy League school, but also the graphic boastfulness of a striking T-shirt motif can all be found in the 1971 collection.
This style canon is linked to a sustainable basic idea that wants to consign fast fashion to the dustbin of history. Christelle works with small European companies as often as possible, which are also listed on the 1971 website. Transparency is therefore guaranteed. Sweatshirts and T-shirts, for example, are made in the north of Portugal, while jeans are sourced from the Colantoni family's factory in Isola del Gran Sasso in Italy. 1971 also attaches importance to sustainability among its suppliers - the denim producer was one of the first in its region to rely on solar energy and to promote the recyclability of raw material residues and water. The sweaters and polo shirts for 1971 are also produced in a family business in Italy that has been active since 1968. It is this focus on the small, manageable that sets 1971 apart - the human factor is in the foreground. It is only logical that all 1971 products are produced in relatively small quantities; overproduction is a foreign concept for the brand. So anyone waiting for regular sales in the online shop to help empty overfilled warehouses will be waiting in vain at 1971. And that's a good thing.
Christelle herself looks back on a solid career in the denim and fashion industry for men's clothing and after almost 25 years with important players in this market, she decided to do her own thing in 2019: 1971 was born. Christelle on her motivation: "My inspiration comes from three sources: my childhood and teenage memories, my love of denim and influences from the retro and rock scene." ZZ Top or the Rolling Stones may not be everyone's cup of tea, but with their "always been there" attitude they embody a solid survival attitude that also suits the clothing industry well: Some things never change.
Text • Carsten Sobek | Photos • Tom Delvaux