MUUBS Catálogo Invierno 2019-2020

Bent Povlsen
Founder of MUUBS
Wearing his dads old work-uniform.
IT’S WEATHERED, TORN AND RUFFLED AND
NOT PRETENDING TO BE SOMETHING IT IS NOT.
MUUBS P / 08
THE
BLUE
COAT
The life experiences of Bent´s father almost feel
like they are woven into the fabric of this wellworn
blue coat and passed on to Bent. Even the
holes next to the left pocket adds to its story and
personality. In fact, this imperfection adds value
to the coat. At least to Bent, as he pauses for a
moment to reflect upon how his father may have
influenced the path of his life up to this day.
Deep within the pockets of the blue coat, you find
the life lessons of a man that Bent deeply admired.
The coat belonged to Bent’s dad. He wore it for
the first time the same year Bent was born. And he
wore it daily while working as an Acumen.
“I was fascinated by my dad and the way he
carried himself. Always treating people with
respect and he understood the extended value of
the products he sold, thereby providing people
with what they needed.”
But it does not only take good people skills.
“It also requires the willingness to try something
new, although it may come with a risk of failing,”
he says and inserts his index finger through one
of the holes in his dad’s old coat with a smile.
Making a subtle time lapse between his now
deceased father and himself.
“People may say that I´m hard to harness, and it’s
okay because it is true.” He smiles and continues:
“It only becomes dangerous the moment I do not
apply my well-earned backpack of experiences.”
Bent shares that he considers himself well-worn
like this blue coat. “Maybe that is why I like it so
much; it has a story. One my dad and I share. It’s
weathered, torn and ruffled and not pretending
to be something it is not. I feel like it somehow
takes me back to a much simpler time in my life.
One with more time to connect to myself and the
people around me.”
MUUBS P /09 9
“Today, as I come of age myself, I understand how
he managed to provide for us - his family, with
both security and freedom to explore life.” Values
that Bent has adopted and lives by to this day.
“My parents were wealthy in terms of life experiences.
They lived a simple, humble lifestyle of
being, rather than doing or having.”
What I remember about my dad was how he
led by example, how to work one’s way up in an
honourable way. He was a man with solid values,
and in that sense, a great role model to me.”
As we wrap up the interview, I start to acknowledge
how the fabric of wisdom and life experiences
gets passed on for the next generations to upcycle
in such a subtle and personal way. In Bents case,
reminiscing over his Father’s blue coat, put some
of his life decisions into a bigger perspective.
And I wonder, as I finish up this article, which life
lessons have been passed on to me, and which I
may already have upcycled and passed on to my
children.
Linda Riis Jensen
Marketing Specialist at MUUBS
Back then, the life of the Acumen was very different
from today, yet the craftsmanship of treating
people with authenticity and respect is to this day,
one of the most important values of what Bent
considers - a true Acumen.