Disruptive Pattern Material: An Encyclopedia of Camouflage

From animal survival to anti-war irony. Camouflage occurs naturally in the wild as a mechanism of protection and illusion. Learning from nature, military strategists reproduced, painted and printed camouflage patterns to protect equipment and soldiers. Disruptive Pattern Material is an encyclopedic history of camouflage from its roots in nature, through to its adoption by armed forces and on to its current popularity within modern civilian culture. The book begins with the wide variety of wildlife that protects itself by blending into the environment. Military camouflage covers the first uses of camouflage to disguise artillery and ships and eventually individual soldiers. A comprehensive, historical guide features the various camouflage patterns issued to soldiers of 107 nations around the world. The use of camouflage outside of the armed forces first began in the 1960s by anti-war protestors. From there, camouflage was further explored by artists and designers. The book covers the uses of non-military camouflage in: Fashion Architecture Music Sports Film Art and graffiti. Featuring 5,000 compelling images by leading photographers, Disruptive Pattern Material is an authoritative reference with fascinating cultural insight.

About the Author :
Hardy Blechman, the Creative Director of Maharishi, a fashion design company, has been influential in the proliferation of camouflage and combat pants in civilian fashion over the past decade.

Review :
From computer games to cargo pants, a compendium of the perennially fashionable print.--Globe and Mail (12/24/2004) Out of the ordinary... remarkable detail... I really was fully and greatly amazed by the book's complexity... The main value of this extraordinary publication is the freshness with which it informs us about the predilections of human visions -- and the ease with which we are beguiled.-- (09/01/2004) Thick with information and glossy photographs of camouflage in all its forms -- from color-changing chameleons to vivid graffiti art.-- (03/11/2005) Charts the history of the pattern from the natural world through modern warfare to its role in contemporary culture.--Mallery Roberts Lane"New York Times" (11/25/2004) Delves into the use of camouflage as a source of pure graphic pleasure.--Rob Walker"New York Times Magazine" (10/17/2004) This unique, handsomely designed coffee-table book has an eye-pleasing layout and text accompanied by lavish and extensive color illustration, and an illustrate bibliography of further resources.--M. Fusich"Choice" (04/01/2005)