© Maison Martin Margiela |
Martin Margiela was born in 1959 and graduated in 1979 at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
He became Jean-Paul Gaultier's assistant and in 1988 he staged his own first show in Paris. In that same year he founded 'Maison Martin Margiela' together with Jenny Meirens.
In 1996 and 1998 he was asked to participate at the Biennale in Florence and in June 1997 an exhibition was dedicated to him and his work in the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Afterwards this exhibition travelled to Kyoto, New York and Tokyo.
Martin Margiela is considered a conceptual fashion artist. In his collections themes such as the reproduction of materials and the deconstruction of patterns and shapes are often interwoven.
He uses both garments from flea markets and new pieces. He takes them apart to subsequently reassemble them and create unique items.
The seams remain visible. He combines several materials such as jute and plastic with light and transparent fabrics, with details visible from the outside.
As protest against the fashion world Margiela uses veiled models on the catwalk and empty white labels to identify his creations. He shows his collections in unfamiliar locations including empty underground stations and playgrounds. In 1994 his collection consists of the best pieces from his previous collections. In 1997 he presents "semi-couture": clothes that are only half finished and shown to the public on coat hangers. The instructions for use are to be found on the accompanying film.
In 1997 Martin Margiela began designing the women's collections for Hermès. Although the choice of the conservative couture house was surprising, Hermès proved that it is possible to combine the traditional with the innovative. In September 2000 Martin Margiela opened his first shop in Tokyo. Shops in Osaka, Paris, Brussels and London followed.
awards:
1983: winner of the Gouden Spoel (Golden Spindle, an annual prize awarded to the most promising young fashion designer).
1989: Prize Andam (Association Nationale pour le Développement des Arts de la Mode), France
where to buy:
EUROPE
AUSTRIA:
Vienna, Park: +43 1 526 44 14
BELGIUM:
Brussels, Martin Margiela : +32 2 223 75 20
Brussels, Stijl : +32 2 51 20 313
FRANCE:
Paris, Martin Margiela : +33 1 40 15 07 55
Paris, Printemps Corner Martin Margiela : +33 1 42 82 57 05
UK:
London, Selfridges : +44 171 318 23 78
London, Pollyanna : +44 122 629 16 65
GERMANY:
Berlin, Van Ravenstein : +49 30 31 00 46 02
USA
New York, IF Boutique : +1 212 334 49 64
JAPAN
Tokyo, Martin Margiela : +81 3 5725 2421
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