Background History
MANN by Fritz “A Safari Journey”
The journey of Fritz in the world of fashion began in 1990, when he was just in the 9th grade. He entered his first fashion modeling competition and won second place. The following year, in 1991, he competed again and was awarded the title of Best Model. From that moment on, Fritz continued his career as a fashion model while pursuing his education through high school and college, actively participating in photo shoots and runway shows.
For Fritz, modeling was not only fun, it also became a way to earn extra income beyond what his parents provided. More importantly, it taught him discipline, social skills, and helped shape his taste in lifestyle and fashion. As he matured, Fritz traveled extensively. While studying in the United States, he visited high-end department stores across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. He made it a point to explore individual flagship stores of global luxury brands to refine his fashion sensibility and keep up with evolving trends. Upon returning to Indonesia, Fritz launched a modeling agency and became a fashion show choreographer. Through his work, he consistently observed men’s fashion both on and off the runway, particularly in Indonesia. He noticed that men’s style remained largely conservative and, frankly, uninspired. The common belief was that men must be masculine and practical. And while Fritz agrees that masculinity and simplicity are important, he also believes that style shouldn’t be sacrificed.
This long-standing observation sparked a dream to help men look more stylish, fashionable, and fresh without overcomplicating the way they dress. After more than 34 years in the fashion industry, Fritz Panjaitan finally brought that vision to life with the launch of his menswear line: MANN by Fritz. MANN, the German word for “man,” is a perfect reflection of the brand and the designer himself.