Civilist

Pointer + Civilist.

Berlin Brigade / Urban Camouflage.

After WWII, Berlin was divided into four parts, governed by the allies. British and US troops were called the Berlin Brigade. The French were busy drinking wine, the Russians drinking Vodka in the East of Berlin.

Cold War came and stayed longer then a Berlin winter. So the British invented a special insignia for their uniforms. A red circle symbolising the Russian Army surrounding the island of Berlin. Allegedly, the British forces named this sign “The Asshole”.

Then British came up with an idea for an urban camouflage. The repetition of different sized squares were effectively to disguise the shape of a tank. The colours chosen resembled the shades found on buildings, windows and doors. Reactions from the soldiers went from amusement to acceptance.

A Corps Commander even said: “I can‘t see your fucking tank, must be a good idea“.
The paint scheme was adopted subsequently by all British forces in Berlin. Each vehicle was painted to the same pattern.

20 years after the British troops left Berlin, Gareth and Greg from Pointer came to the Civilist store.
Civilist Owners Foley and Hesse
were born and raised in West-Berlin, in the British district.
After a beer or two all came up with the idea of a fraternisation.
A tribute to the influence of the British in Berlin.

Two interpretations of classic British footwear, Pointer‘s Benson and Cyril, a modified Parka made of British Millerian fabric, and an accompanying T-Shirt, all showing the British camouflage pattern, are part of this collaborative effort.