Martin Margiela facts for kids

Martin Margiela is a famous Belgian fashion designer and artist. He is known for starting the French luxury fashion house Maison Margiela. Throughout his career, Margiela has kept a very low profile. He rarely gives interviews or allows himself to be photographed. After leaving the fashion world in 2008, he started focusing on art. He is considered one of the most important fashion designers in recent times. His style often includes "deconstructed" (taken apart and put back together differently) and "upcycled" (made from old materials) looks, as well as oversized clothes.

Early Life and Education

Where Did Martin Margiela Grow Up?

Martin Margiela was born on April 9, 1957, in a city called Genk in Limburg, Belgium. He became interested in fashion when he was a child. He watched a TV show about famous designers from the 1960s, like André Courrèges and Paco Rabanne.

How Did He Start Designing?

As a teenager, Martin began creating stylish outfits using second-hand clothes. He would find these clothes at flea markets. This early love for pre-worn clothes later became a big part of his design style. He also became friends with Inge Grognard, who shared his interest in fashion. She later became the make-up artist for all of his fashion shows.

Where Did Martin Margiela Study Fashion?

Martin Margiela studied fashion at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp). He finished his studies in 1979. This was a year before a famous group of designers, known as the Antwerp Six, graduated from the same school.

Fashion Career Highlights

Starting His Design Journey

After graduating, Margiela worked as a freelance designer for five years. In 1984, he moved to Paris, France. There, he worked as a design assistant for the French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. He stayed with Gaultier until 1987.

Founding Maison Margiela

How Was Maison Margiela Started?

In 1988, Martin Margiela started his own fashion label, Maison Martin Margiela. He founded it with his business partner, Jenny Meirens. Jenny Meirens owned a designer clothing store in Brussels. She believed Margiela was "the most talented young designer" she had ever seen.

What Was His First Big Show Like?

Margiela's first show for his own label was in the fall of 1989. It presented his Spring/Summer 1990 collection. The show took place on an old playground in a North African neighborhood outside Paris. It was very unusual, with an uneven runway and models who seemed to stumble on purpose. This created a big surprise in the fashion world.

At a time when most fashion was about bright colors and big shoulders, Margiela's collection was different. It featured clothes with ripped sleeves, frayed edges, and clunky shoes. To show respect for the local community, children from the neighborhood drew the invitations. They also sat in the front row during the show.

What is the Maison Margiela Label?

The 'anonymous' label, where each number corresponds to the Margiela collection that the piece is from

Maison Martin Margiela has a very unique and quiet trademark. It's a piece of cloth with numbers from 0 to 23. This label is sewn inside the clothing with four small, white stitches. On clothes without a lining, these stitches can be seen from the outside.

Why Did Martin Margiela Stay Hidden?

Unlike most other designers, Martin Margiela always stayed backstage after his shows. He never came out to take a bow. Since 1988, he never gave a formal interview or allowed his picture to be taken for magazines. All his communication with the media was done through fax, and later, email. His idea was to make sure his designs spoke for themselves. He wanted people to know that his clothes were the result of a team effort, not just his own work.

When Did Martin Margiela Leave His Own Label?

The company Maison Margiela was bought by the OTB Group in 2002. Margiela continued to be the creative director for a while. However, by 2008, he was less involved in the new collections. He had privately shared that he wanted to stop designing. He was looking for someone to take over his role. His friends thought he wanted to "enjoy his life away from the constant attention of the fashion world." In December 2009, Margiela officially left his own label. No new creative director was named right away. A team of designers continued to run the house until John Galliano was appointed in 2014.

Working at Hermès

Martin Margiela's Role at Hermès

In 1997, Margiela was named the creative director for women's wear at Hermès. This news surprised many in the fashion industry. Hermès was known for its classic and traditional style, while Margiela was known for his unique, experimental designs.

Even though his designs for Hermès were not as bold as those for his own label, he still brought his unique ideas. He focused on creating timeless clothes that were high quality. He was inspired by sports and leisure clothing from the 1920s.

What Were His Designs for Hermès Like?

Despite some initial doubts, he created several elegant collections. These included loose-fitting, masculine suits and black evening dresses that were very sophisticated. Some of his original designs included a jacket that could be rolled up like a bag. He also designed coats with collars and fasteners that could be removed. He created the famous double-looping strap for the Cape Cod watch. Another popular design was the losange, a diamond-shaped scarf that became one of Hermès' bestsellers. All his shows for Hermès were held at their luxurious store in Paris.

In 2003, Margiela left his role at Hermès to focus more on his own label. His former mentor, Jean Paul Gaultier, took over his position.

Life After Fashion

After leaving the fashion world, Martin Margiela started focusing on art. He spent two years working with Lafayette Anticipations – Galeries Lafayette Corporate Foundation. He created more than 40 art pieces for his first solo art show. This exhibition opened in October 2021.

Some of his art included silicon spheres covered in human hair. He also created large paintings of dust particles. There were also blank spaces in the exhibit. These symbolized the idea of an exhibition that is "always changing, unfinished, and moving."

See also

In Spanish: Martin Margiela para niños

• Maison Margiela
• Deconstruction (fashion)
• OTB Group
• John Galliano