How high-flyer Kasper's stain-and-odor-resistant clothing makes the man

Kasper Brandi Petersen, 35, had it good: a suit every day and a well-paying job where he traveled all over the world. But clothes don't make the man in this case, or do they... Kasper decided to take the plunge and start the company LABFRESH together with his fiancée Lotte Vink. A company that makes and sells stain- and odor-resistant men's clothing.

Text: Fleur de JongBuy less, wash less and wear longer. That's the mission of founders Kasper and Lotte. The textile of the clothing of LABFRESH is treated with a special technique, making it stain and odor resistant. Besides the fact that you'll never see red wine stains on your shirt again, for example, the special technique also ensures fewer washes. This saves you money, as well as a lot of waste, water and energy. It sounds almost too good to be true, but critics can experience the magic of the technology for themselves at LABFRESH's flagship store in Amsterdam, which opened its doors last month. However, if it's up to Kasper, it won't just be Amsterdam. MASTERS talks to the 35-year-old entrepreneur about his future plans and inspiration, among other things.

What is your personal USP?

"When I started my first company, it was all about hyper-growth and raising capital. Nowadays, I'm focused on living a balanced and fun life. It's about enjoying the journey. That's why I marry my co-founder and raise money from private investors rather than large funds."

What can the older generation of entrepreneurs learn from you?

"I think the older generation of entrepreneurs can learn something from my experimental mindset. I come from a generation of entrepreneurs who have been empowered by great technology. It's cheap and easy to test new ideas instead of just saying, 'I've tried that before and it doesn't work.' Such statements are hard for me to accept. A more appropriate statement is, 'I don't think it will work, but I'm going to set up an experiment to test it and watch the outcome after this.'" 

Who is your teacher or inspiration in the entrepreneurial field?

"I get a lot of inspiration from athletes. I am Danish and right now all I can think about is the European Football Championship to watch my national team play. The Danish team and especially soccer player Simon Kjær is my biggest inspiration right now; their team spirit and culture are amazing and almost impossible to copy in a "normal" company like mine.''

What is your motto or quote?

"The three mottos that guide us in LABFRESH: 'Growth is a lifestyle,' 'We take our work seriously, ourselves not so much,' and 'Show constant care.'

What is the biggest entrepreneurial risk you have taken so far?

"The hardest step I had to take was when I was in my dream job. I was traveling all over the world 180 days a year. I wore a suit and tie every day and both the salary and colleagues were great. When I chose to quit and move to Amsterdam to start a personal shopping service called The Cloakroom, we had only raised €15,000 in funding and I wasn't fully behind my decision to quit my old job. In retrospect, it turned out to be the best decision of my life, but it took me 12 months to realize that."

Where will you be in three years?

"Over the next few years, I am fully focused on scaling LABFRESH across Europe - both online and flagship stores. We are also now working on some amazing innovations in our lab in Switzerland. In 3 years, I will be proud if we can say that 100% of our collection is made from recycled or lab-grown fibers.''Do you know or are you a successful, young entrepreneur who also deserves a spot in the spotlight? Then email Fleur de Jong(fleur@mastershq.nl) for the possibilities.Click here for new kid Dylan Laseur.