The Original Snopants® Story
Snopants® have long been established as Maharishi's signature trouser, having featured in every collection since 1996.
The style was loosely based on white U.S. Army Snow Camouflage Over Trousers – intended to be worn over a full combat uniform as camouflage in snowy terrain. Maharishi improved the original design – adjusting the pattern, adding pocket bags, elasticated waist and hem adjustable ties. The adapted style was renamed the ‘Original Snopant’ and incorporated the patented Snocord® System for concealment of excess cord and the Temple Bead, a one-part metal cord lock. Additional functionality was added in the form of the patented Snobutton® system, which allows the wearer to fully customise the trouser length and adjust the fit at both the waist and hems to suit their needs.
Original Snopants®, while available in a variety of plain colourways, have also become synonymous with intricate hand-machined embroideries, offered each season bearing seasonal artworks and in a variety of fabric choices, as well as in loose, straight and cargo variants.
Original Dragon embroidery – Maharishi’s signature artwork - helped garner the style a great deal of pre-Internet hype, being represented by everybody from Wu Tang’s RZA to Madonna. Guest-artist collaborative editions were also produced in limited editions from 1995 onwards with artists including UK painter and sculptor Toby Ziegler alongside New York second and later generation graffiti artists Sharp, Stash, KAWS and in the year 2000, Futura.
Today, Original Snopants® are still Maharishi’s most iconic style and continue to exemplify its pacifist military ethos through enhanced functionality and the use of eco-conscious fabrics on military-inspired silhouettes. For the latest campaign, the trousers are shown worn by Capoeiristas, masters of the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira, for which the articulated, loose-fit Original Snopants® are ideally suited thanks to the customisability of the integrated Snocord® and Snobutton® systems and the range of motion offered by the spacious cut.
Snopants® Style Guide
Original Snopants® are available in both monochrome and embroidered versions, as well as in loose-fitting, straight-fitting, and cargo variants.
All styles feature Maharishi’s patented Snocord® and Snobutton® systems.
Loose-Fit Snopants®
Loose-fit Original Snopants® are cut from organic cotton/recycled poly. Snocords® allow for fully adjustable waist and hems, whilst darts at the knee provide an articulated shape for a free range of motion.
Embroidered Snopants®
Intricate hand-machined embroideries are synonymous with Original Snopants®, consistently offered with seasonal artworks in a variety of fabrics, as well as loose, straight and cargo variants.
Cargo Snopants®
Loose-fit Original Snopants®, cut from organic cotton/recycled poly and fitted with M51 long cargo straps – a feature on the original M51 cargo pants, which were designed to be tied around the leg to secure cargo within the pocket. The straps can also be concealed and hidden within the pocket by passing them through a small button hole.
Straight-Fit Snopants®
Straight-fit Original Snopants® constructed from a lightweight organic cotton/polyester and fitted with secure pockets and internal epaulettes to adjust the length.
Maha Systems
The Snocord® system ensures both the waist and hem are fully adjustable, while excess drawcord is concealed within the hand pockets or small internal pockets inside the hem - providing clean lines and ensuring cords aren’t caught. Used vertically, the Snocord® system allows fully adjustable pant length.
Once the cord is adjusted to the desired length, it’s locked with the patented Temple Ball - a unique single part metal bead, produced exclusively for Maharishi in Switzerland by long-term military metal zip manufacturer, Riri. The metal ball allows for the elasticated cord to pass through when stretched for adjustment, but holds the cord in place when left relaxed.
