UnderwearFanatic.com - Men's Underwear & Swimwear Blog

Interview: Markus Bender - Bend The Rules Luxury Men's Underwear

UnderwearFanatic got the chance to interview Markus Bender of Bend the Rules based in Beverly Hills, CA.  Bend the Rules is all about luxurious fabrics and fine detailing so if it's luxury men's underwear your looking for then look no further.  Check out the interview to learn a little more about the man behind Bend the Rules.  

BradyUF - How long have you been designing men's underwear?

Markus – I've been designing men's underwear almost 4 years now.

BradyUF - What is your favorite thing about designing men’s underwear and fashion wear?

Markus - My favorite thing about designing underwear is discovering the many different styles of people. Then putting my own 'Bend the Rules' touch to it.

BradyUF - What trends do you see that you think are going to be popular this year?

Markus- I truly don't concern myself with trends or fashion. Fashion & Trends. Trends & Fashion. Here today gone tomorrow. I like my designs to be about style. I like to use the analogy of James Dean vs The Brady Bunch. James Dean had a style, The Brady's were about trendy fashion and when you look back at either one, who still looks cool. "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!" I Don't Think So!

BradyUF - What should we expect to see from Bend the Rules in the future?

Markus- Well, You can certainly expect the best. What ever it is. I like to add pieces to my existing line, rather than come out with whole new lines. When I feel I have a piece worth putting out, then and only then is it released. You can expect, cool new graphics, a new color or two & I will be releasing key pieces to compliment our line of underwear. You can expect the fabric in the new pieces to also be Tencel®. Tencel® is such a great fabric. It's difficult to finish but well worth the added effort. It's one of the biggest reasons our underwear is so incredible. Oh, and you can always expect to find one red Swarovski Crystal on every garment. It's part of our insignia.

BradyUF - What is your background in design?

Markus - My love for creating & design goes back over 20 years when I initially designed training gear for working out. I was granted two US Patents on two of my designs. One on a training belt & the other for a training glove that had a built in wrist support. It later evolved into designing apparel. Which I find easier, more rewarding & much more enjoyable. I Love it!!!  

BradyUF - What is your personal favorite design?

Markus- The black boxer brief with the BtR dagger through the skull.

BradyUF - Who is one of your favorite designers?

Markus - In the beginning of my apparel designing I appreciated James Perse. Primarily because of his good taste in the fabrics he used alot of timeless classic pieces.

BradyUF - What inspires you?

Markus- Many things inspire me. I've been inspired living in Beverly Hills for the last 15 years. Being around the luxury thats here, inspired me to create luxury apparel. I'm inspired by the guys(and women) who tell me how much they love wearing my underwear. Telling me they're so soft & the most comfortable underwear they have ever put on. That always brings a smile to my face & brings inspiration. Children inspire me. They have this amazing energy & this simplistic curiosity to life. Being in Sunny California with all it's diversity in not only the people, but the vast differences in the geography.

BradyUF - What concepts can we find in all of your designs?

Markus- Timeless Style, Flattering Fit & Comfort, First & Foremost. The comfort, originates with the fabric. I only use Tencel®. I'm so happy with the performance of my fabric. It was time well spent in the development of it. It's more breathable & more absorbent than cotton. Naturally antibacterial & when finished properly is so luxurious.Oh & did I mention I put one red swarovski crystal on each piece. It's like my insignia.

BradyUF - What has been your most memorable moment or your greatest achievement as a designer?

Markus- The memorable moment that first comes to mind was shortly after I came out with my boxer briefs, I met up with Charlie Sheen for the first time on the set of 'Two & A Half Men'. At that point, he had already been wearing my brand for several weeks. He told me how much he loved my underwear & how he had worn Versace for over 8 years and no longer wears them because he has converted over to 'Bend the Rules'.

BradyUF - How did you get started designing men’s underwear?

Markus- Personal dissatisfaction I guess! I was not happy with the choices of underwear available. I'm very fitness and body conscious and I wanted something that not only felt good but looked good from the moment I first put it on until the time I took it off. It had to retain it's shape all day & all night (or maybe even into the next day if need be). Anyway, long story short, I couldn't find it So I decided to design it myself. Once I had the fit right, I decided I wasn't happy with the fabric. It had to have the right characteristics and feel luxurious. So I spent over a year perfecting the fabric that I use today. An amazing blend of Tencel, just the right amount of spandex and finished to feel incredibly soft and silky.

BradyUF - What are your interest outside of designing?

Markus - Well, I must say business is a big part of my life . I enjoy it immensely and find it hard to want to do anything else. Other than making my workouts a part of my daily life. I find I have to make it a point to get away. Hiking is a great escape for me. There are so many beautiful places to hike in California. Making it to the top of Mt.Whitney is on my list of things to do yet this summer ( we shall see).

BradyUF - What most excites you in the process of developing a new product?

Markus- Just knowing that what I'm creating at that moment will be worn by people in not just this country but in different parts of the world. Thats why it is important for me to give my all to anything I add to my line.

BradyUF - What famous clients wear your designs?

Markus- I have many famous clients who wear my brand. Clients from Charlie, Ryan Seacrest, Bruce Willis, James Franco, Bert Reynolds, Jordan Bratman & even his lovely wife Christina wears 'Bend the Rules' (she finds the fabric soft & comfy). You will also find the guys from Chippendales wearing my underwear through out the 2010 Chippendale Calendar. Be sure to pick up your copy today.

Photos Courtesy - Chippendales 2010 Calendar

Interview: Marcus Roche - Vizeau & SNMTEAM

UnderwearFanatic had a chance to sit down and chat with Marcus Roche who is one of today's most innovative designers of men's swimwear and underwear.  As someone who didn't originally set out to become a clothing designer Marcus has become a unique name in the men's swimwear and underwear industry with his label Vizeau and his newest project SNMTEAM.  We are excited to see what will be next for this multi-talented designer!

BradyUF - Hi Marcus, thanks so much for chatting with me.  I love your designs and was wondering how long have you been designing? 

Marcus - Professionally, since 1992. I signed up for a job as an illustrator in a swimwear manufacturing company in Miami and within two years I was Senior Apparel Development Manager. I learned every process in design, all the way to accounting (laughs)!

BradyUF - What do you enjoy the most about designing men's underwear and swimwear?

Marcus - Designing is as close as you can get to taking a concept in your head and making it a 3rd dimensional reality. Being a Creator. For swimwear and underwear, the challenges are met with pleasure, since I wear them myself. Fit, colour, comfort and (after the Metrosexual phenomenon) trendiness are all parts of the mix.

BradyUF - There are so many different trends out there now.  What trends do you think will be popular this year? 

Marcus -  The current craze for graphic design and characters in both swimwear and underwear will continue for another year or so. It would have to peak quickly to move into a new trend. For once, I’ve seen a departure from the women’s collections and the male sportswear as cues to design.

I was talking to a close colleague about the big interest in soccer uniforms, after David Beckham moved to Los Angeles. Soccer apparel is a great source of graphic design ideas, which made me wonder about the sudden burst in colour and prints.

BradyUF -  In swimwear what colors are "in" this season?

Marcus - Not so much solids by themselves, but combinations of yellows, blues, oranges, red and white. Primary and tertiary colours coexist successfully, too

BradyUF -  What is your background in design?

Marcus -  I didn’t study design. My first love was Forensic Medicine. I was deeply impressed by my father’s sketches when I was a child. He was an architect and a Hydraulics Engineer. The precision of his lines and the excellent use of colour and depth inspired a desire to enter Art schools, but I found them all rather stuffy and stuck to a scientific education, until I found my ability to manufacture and design products handy while going to College.

That first job at the swimwear manufacturing company seduced me into the clothing business. I aced the technical aspects of apparel production and also the marketing and financial sides of the business. I fell in love with it.

BradyUF -  So what is your personal favorite design in your collection now? 

Marcus -  At the moment? Veneto for the front graphic interest and the stripes. I wore that last weekend to the beach and got kudos for it.

BradyUF - That has to be fun to see people react in a positive way to your design.  Who would you say is your favorite designer? 

Marcus -  Kris Van Assche, who is replacing Hedi Slimane at Dior Homme.

BradyUF - I think it is amazing how designers come up with so many different ideas.  What is it that inspires your designs?

Marcus -  You’ll think it’s a touch mad, but the Sistine Chapel’s carefully covered nudes and the draping itself got me thinking of the engineering behind my invention, the Sliver suit: A one-leg thong. My inspirations are completely random.

BradyUF -  You seem to have such a unique approach to men's underwear and swimwear.  What concepts can we find in all of your designs? 

Marcus -  Shape and cut. Unapologetically sensual cutouts and colours that showcase the wearer’s assets. I’m onto revolutionizing design for men’s swimwear and underwear.

BradyUF -  With your brand being so unique and different you must have a memorable moment or greatest achievement  as a designer? 

Marcus - It was a personal moment. A designer I admire tremendously got a swimsuit for his boyfriend. A bit surreal, but it made me smile all day long.

BradyUF -  So what was it that got you started designing men's swimwear and underwear? 

Marcus -  After six years of designing women’s collections (more volume and ease of design), I took a break for a year and found myself revisiting the two largest needs in my life at one point: sex and new clothes. I started slowly, but I found so much freedom in working on a male figure and knowing the needs so much better than anyone else.

BradyUF -  So when you are not making the world sexy, what are your interest outside of design? 

Marcus -  Music and video production. I am in a partnership with a fantastic sound engineer and musician who is showing me so much about audio and image. We launched an album late last year, "Polarised" and are thrilled to see it rise within the indie circles.

BradyUF -  So do you think that more men in the US are coming around to the idea of wearing bikini and squarecut swimsuits out in public? 

Marcus -  Much more now than before. There’s a lot of underwear exposure in the media and an interest in Brazilian male and female supermodels, which has led to watching the apparel closely and wanting it as well.

BradyUF - What is it that excites you the most in the process of developing a new product?

Marcus -  The certainty of the vision. When I merge the materials and colours, there is a cool moment of happiness in being sure of that moment and what I foresee within two or three collections after it. Evolution.

BradyUF - So what exciting projects and designs should we expect to see from Vizeau and SNMTEAM in the future?

Marcus -  Vizeau is launching boxer shorts in the trademark risqué way in which we approach design. Vizeau has also collaborated with Jeremy Williamson(JMIAH) whose accomplishments as a bodybuilder and fitness model, despite diabetes are really close to me.  SNMTeam will be inspired by superheroes and yes, soccer this coming season.

You can see Marcus Roche's designs at Vizeau.com & SNMTeam.com.