ISO.POETISM began for founder and creative director Tobias Birk Nielsen as a means of emotional release. The brand allowed him to navigate trials and tribulations, letting love lead as a beacon even in the most difficult phases of life. “In a very short period, I have become a father to a healthy son, yet at the same time, lost the person in my life that I loved the most—my wife,” Nielsen explains. “This extreme emotional paradox had taken place while I’d just launched the brand.”

Now, over a decade later, Birk Nielsen’s imaginings take the form of rugged menswear defined by raw textures and neutral tones. Nielsen has not only fostered a platform through which individuals can connect upon clothing, but also explore their own emotional expeditions and shared hardships. “We’d like to be a tool for awareness on specific topics and a link between people who might be in the same emotional scenarios,” he shares. Each garment comes equipped with its own elaborate story, informed by Nielsen’s personal experience and worldview. As such, each wearer builds upon that narrative by integrating themselves into the wider community surrounding the brand.

But, this notion of connectivity does not just end with each piece. Rather, each design acts as the facilitator for other important conversations. As sustainable production and sourcing practices are imperative to the brand, every silhouette is a reminder of the responsibility we owe to the world. The pursuit of purpose characterizes ISO.POETISM through and through, aesthetically and internally. Birk Nielsen expands upon this, noting, “We hope to inspire [consumers] to be attentive to emotions and connect with those feelings, relate, and use them in constructive ways.”

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