As Hentsch Man's Spring/Summer 2012 collection of coastal classics sails into OC, we took a moment to check in with our bow tie-wearing buddy Alexia, one half of the HM team. Alexia started Hentsch back in 2008, alongside friend Max Von Hurter; neither of them could find the perfect shirt, so their only option was to make their own. This season, East Coast favorites get an English update, thanks to slim-cut tailoring and British heritage fabrics. Our favorite new additions to the line? The "Friday" and "Sunday" shirts in blue stripes and gingham—we want to collect the whole week! Find out more in our quickfire Q & A with Alexia below.

Shop all Hentsch Man here.

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Alice Newell-Hanson: The spring collection is all about East Coast meets England. Who would its poster boy be?
Alexia Hentsch: A fictitious character somewhere in between Steve McQueen and Wes Anderson.

ANH: And what were some of your references?
AH: I was definitively looking at Atlantic coastal living, be it in the US or in France. We were thinking about things like stripy sweaters, yellow fisherman jackets, and seersucker suits.

ANH: What are some of your favorite fabrics in the collection?
AH: I like the use of rubber in the jackets. It makes the Atlantic coastal reference more authentic. We used a lot of fabrics from British Millerain, which is famous for its waxed canvases. Working with them made for some interesting options for our outerwear.

ANH: Please describe the perfect white shirt.
AH: Simple, slim-fitting, with no visible branding, a clean collar, and not too long so it can be worn untucked. And ironed. Always ironed!

ANH: What's the most-worn item in your wardrobe?
AH: Falke 100 black opaque tights—my winter uniform! 

ANH: And in Max's?
AH: Anything Hentsch Man, of course!

ANH: How did you and Max meet?
AH: We're family friends so we've known each other our whole lives.

ANH: Who does what at Hentsch Man?
AH: I do the design and creative direction mostly, Max does the numbers and more sensible "business" direction.

ANH: Please talk us through a day in the life at Hentsch Man HQ.
AH: We have an office of five full-time employees. Everyone has their own roles spanning from sales, office management, PR and marketing to design. So a day in the life of Hentsch Man deals with all these aspects—often at the same time. There's a lot of travel too, for sales fairs, research, and buying trips. I'd say the each day is different!

ANH: Where was the last place that inspired you?
AH: It's not particularly original, but every time I go to Paris and sit at a café, I come back with a hundred ideas for the new collection. Something about street style in that city is very inspiring.

ANH: What was the last book you read?
AH: I'm half way through Jonathan Franzen's Freedom.

ANH: The last thing that made you laugh out loud?
AH: The opening scene from Bridesmaids!

Shop all Hentsch Man here.

FILED UNDER: Hentsch Man , SS12 , Interview , Alexia Hentsch