Oh how fun to be young, in love, and look great in a bathing suit (or nothing for that matter). The Advocate has recognized quite a handsome couple--Andrew Maxin (33) and Mark Waier (31)--who both have talents in the skimpy skivvies category. As is pointed out in the "40 Under 40" list, Maxin family "became the first practitioners of the garment repair process known as 'invisible mending' in British Columbia after emigrating from South Vietnam in the early 1980s. After coming out and attending design school in Vancouver, Maxin moved to Los Angeles, where he gained experience designing creative campaigns for icons such as Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald."
"When I moved to L.A., I promised myself I would never hide who I was and always be true to myself," he tells the magazine. "I believe recognizing the beauty in our differences can be a powerful thing."Maxin's desire to embrace and find strength in his differences is shared by his partner, former Ford model Mark Waier, who left the runway behind to attend law school.
"When I was modeling, nobody cared about what I had to say. They just wanted me to stand in front of the camera and be quiet," Waier says. "That's part of the reason I retired from the industry, because of how models are treated and perceived. But just because you're a model doesn't mean you can't be smart." Seeing a general lack of fun and innovation in the industry, the couple last year founded the swimwear and underwear company Vanwolff, whose target market is men who desire to be different. "That's what Vanwolff as a brand is about, following your instinct, embracing the wolf within, and being true to who you are," says Maxin.
For more on Vanwolff, visit the website.
