MAHA YEAR OF THE PRAYING MANTIS | AW26 Pre
The Maha Year of the Praying Mantis collection channels the precision and discipline of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, where every strike, stance, and movement mirrors the cunning and agility of its insect namesake. Across the collection, the praying mantis takes many forms—from the swaying elegance of the orchid mantis to the poised, predatory stillness that inspired traditional martial techniques—symbolising a meditative stillness that is a recurring theme throughout the collection. For Maha, the mantis embodies both a living martial archetype and a spiritual symbol: a reminder that true power lies in observation, timing, and the quiet mastery of one’s own form.
The collection features four distinct capsules: Year of the Praying Mantis, Mahaboro & Sashiko, Respect Nature Utilise Technology and Pacifist Military Design.
Available online, and in the London and New York Stores.
Year of the praying mantis
The Maha Year of the Praying Mantis capsule channels the precision and discipline of Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu, where every strike, stance, and movement mirrors the cunning and agility of its insect namesake.
The Orchid Mantis, known as one of several flower mantis species, is a reference to their unique physical form and behaviour, mimicking orchid flowers as a hunting and camouflaging strategy.
Artwork features across Maharishi’s signature Original Snopants, Italian cupro shirts, MA-1 jackets and sweat kimonos through hand-machine embroidery and print. The capsule continues Maharishi’s ongoing dialogue between utilitarian military design and the natural world, exploring themes of adaptation, concealment and precision.
• Hand-Machine Embroidery
• Italian-Made Cupro
• Original Snopants & Snoshorts
Mahaboro & Sashiko
The MAHABORO capsule honours the beauty of resilience and craftsmanship through the lens of traditional Japanese textiles. Inspired by the layered, repaired textures of "boro" cloth, woven from humble cotton, linen, and hemp and historically stitched back together to extend its life, the collection celebrates imperfection as art.
Sashiko stitching, with its rhythmic “little stabs” of white or red thread against indigo, transforms functional reinforcement into a meditative pattern.Across the capsule, these elements converge into contemporary expressions, where heritage, durability, and functionality meet.
The capsule features a richly textured 'Noragi Jaquard' fabric, made in Japan, that mimics the patch and sew technique and is featured across a 3-piece set. Hand-machined sashiko patterns are presented on reinterpreted military and eastern silhouettes and organic cotton tees
• Japanese-Made Noragi Jacquard
• Hand-Machine Sashiko Stitch
• Reinterpreted Military and Eastern Silhouettes
Respect Nature Utilise Technology
Respect Nature / Utilise Technology capsule embodies Maha’s core ethos; balancing harmony with nature and progress through innovation.
Blending sustainable materials with advanced fabrication techniques, the collection reflects a philosophy where ancient wisdom meets modern utility - proving that conscious design and cutting-edge technology can coexist seamlessly.
A new technical fabric is introduced this season; a blend of hemp, Tencel™, and nylon to create a performance textile that unites natural resilience with technical functionality, provided by a DWR coating to repel water. Polartec™ Power Dry is also utilised on sleeveless tees and an ergonomic track jacket which offers supreme breathability and moisture wicking.
• Ergonomic Silhouettes & Articulated Patterning
• Utilitarian Design
• Water-Repellent & Breathable Fabrics
Pacifist Military Design
Maha’s vision is rooted in a respect for nature whilst also reimagining military design from a pacifist perspective - repurposing classic military motifs and systems, emphasising their utilitarian and artistic value rather than their association with war.
This design ethos is reflected in Maharishi’s exploration of camouflage and its use of DPM’s (disruptive pattern material), which reinterpret camouflage by detaching it from its military origins and highlighting its artistic and cultural value. These patterns often blend natural or symbolic imagery, turning a tool of war into a medium for peace.
Since 1996, when Maharishi depleted all remaining stocks of surplus 1980’s U.S. Army Snow Camouflage Over Trousers, they have produced a version, which includes over 10 original features on a streamlined silhouette, the Maharishi Original Snopant®.
• Core Maharishi Silhouettes For Everyday Wear
• Loose & Straight Fit Original Snopants®
• Military Design, Pacifist Spirit
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5304 Original Snopants Loose Fit
- XS / 28
- S / 30
- M / 32
- L / 34
- XL / 36
- XXL / 38
- 3XL / 40
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