MILAN — Max Kobosil, the influential techno producer out of the Berlin scene, has exited 44 Label Group, the brand he cofounded with Antonioli Group.
Italian retailer and entrepreneur Claudio Antonioli had signed up Kobosil in 2021 as part of his namesake group’s Dreamers Factory incubator to produce and distribute a casual and club wear collection by Kobosil under the 44 Label Group brand.
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Antonioli Group is the sole owner of the 44 Label Group trademark, while Kobosil owns the “44” trademark associated with his music career.
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In a statement sent to WWD and shared on the 44 Label Group Instagram account, the Antonioli Group-owned brand stated: “Born from music. Built through community. 44 Label Group will always stand for inclusivity, creativity and freedom of expression. Thank you Max Kobosil for being part of this story. We have great respect for your journey and everything we have built together. And thank you to everyone who — every day — makes 44 Label Group a global creative ecosystem where fashion, music and art come together. Thank you for being part of it, forever.”
On Wednesday night Kobosil also took to his Instagram profile to share the news with his community.
“To my dear supporters, I need to inform you that I have left my former Italian company, 44 Label Group (clothing brand). I’m not the creative director of 44 Label Group (clothing brand) anymore and I have no creative or operational involvement with the clothing brand, its products or social media presence,” Kobosil wrote in Instagram Stories.
“Additionally, any current or future collaborations, partnerships, or drops connected to 44 Label Group (clothing brand) are not planned, directed, or overseen by me in any way. My focus is entirely on my own path and future projects,” he added.
“The whole community continues with: ‘44’ and ‘Front Row.’ I control 100 percent of every 44 (music) event worldwide and I will continue to use the iconic logo of ‘44’ across music related projects and activities forever,” he said. 44 Front Row is Kobosil’s company and Instagram handle for music events worldwide.
The recurring 44 is drawn from the original postal code for the gritty Neukölln borough of Berlin where Kobosil grew up.
After launching in 2021 with a 70-piece collection, spanning T-shirts, outerwear, edgy tailoring and accessories, the brand hosted four fashion shows at Milan Men’s Fashion Week between January 2022 and June 2023.
Antonioli Group will continue to lead and operate 44 Label Group. In the statement, the fashion company reiterated its commitment to working as a platform for creativity at the intersection of music and fashion.
“44 Label Group was born in Berlin as a space where different voices, energies and identities could exist together. What started in Berlin quickly expanded beyond borders, connecting communities and cities through music, fashion and culture,” 44 Label Group wrote. “From the very beginning, inclusivity has been at the core of 44 Label Group. A family shaped by artists, creators and people who believe in freedom of expression. Paris Fashion Week in January 2023 was one of those moments that reminded how far this vision could travel. With friends and artists like Kobosil, Amelie Lens, Matteo Milleri, Somewhen, Sven Marquardt, and with everyone who contributes their energy and creativity to this movement…Born in Berlin. Expanded across cities, communities and cultures. Continuing to evolve as a global creative ecosystem where fashion, music and art come together through the people who make it alive,” it said.
To this end, on Thursday 44 Label Group is dropping a capsule collection developed in partnership with DJ Tennis, the nickname for producer Manfredi Romano, and his label Life and Death. Named Dissent, the lineup comprises two short- and one long-sleeve T-shirts dropping Thursday and on July 26th online and at the Antonioli Ibiza stores on the Spanish island.
Dissent is the first in a series of collaborative capsules with artists and creatives exploring on the relationship between music, fashion and contemporary culture, 44 Label Group said.
Antonioli Group owns the namesake stores and the Ann Demeulemeester fashion house, in addition to hip Milan restaurant Sogni and influential nightclub Volt hinged on electronic music. The latter was instrumental in connecting Antonioli and Kobosil five years ago.
A retail veteran and fashion entrepreneur, Antonioli was a cofounder of streetwear conglomerate New Guards Group and has long recognized that DJs and music producers have a lot to offer the fashion world.