Martin Margiela facts for kids

Martin Margiela, born on April 9, 1957, is a famous Belgian fashion designer and artist. He started the luxury fashion house called Maison Margiela in France. Martin Margiela is known for being very private. He never gave interviews in person or allowed himself to be photographed.

After leaving the fashion world in 2008, he became an artist. He explores many of the same ideas that made him a fashion icon. Many people think he is one of the most important fashion designers ever. This is because of his unique style, which often uses deconstructed (taken apart) and upcycled (reused) materials. He also liked oversized clothes.

Early Life and Learning About Fashion

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.

As a teenager, he started buying second-hand clothes from flea markets. He would put them together to create cool and affordable outfits. His love for pre-worn clothes later influenced his designs for big fashion houses. He also became friends with Inge Grognard, who shared his interest in fashion. She later became the make-up artist for all his fashion shows.

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

Martin Margiela's Fashion Career

Starting Out in Fashion

After finishing college, Margiela worked as a designer on his own 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.

Creating Maison Margiela

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

Margiela showed his first collection for his new label in the fall of 1989. It was for the Spring/Summer 1990 season. The show took place in an old playground in a North African neighborhood outside Paris. It was a very unusual show. The runway was uneven, and the models sometimes stumbled on purpose. This created a big surprise for everyone in the fashion world.

At that time, most fashion was about being fancy, with bright colors and big shoulders. But Margiela's collection was different. It had ripped sleeves, frayed (worn-out) edges, and clunky shoes. To show respect for the neighborhood, local children were asked to draw the invitations for the show. They also sat in the front row during the show.

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

Maison Martin Margiela has a very simple and secret trademark. It is a piece of cloth with numbers from 0 to 23. This label is sewn inside the clothes with four small, white stitches. On some clothes, these stitches can be seen from the outside.

Unlike most other designers, Martin Margiela always stayed backstage. He never came out to take a bow after his shows. Since 1988, he never agreed to a formal interview or allowed his picture to be taken for magazines. All his communication with the media was done by fax, and later by email. He wanted people to focus on his designs, not on him. He believed his clothes were the work of a team, not just one person.

In December 2009, Margiela officially left his own label. No one was named to take his place right away. A team of designers continued to run the house. Later, in 2014, John Galliano was chosen as the new creative director.

Working at Hermès

In 1997, Margiela was also named the creative director for women's clothing at Hermès. This news surprised the fashion industry. Hermès was known for being a very traditional and classic French brand. Margiela was known for his modern and experimental designs.

Even though his designs for Hermès were not as bold as his own label's work, he still used his unique ideas. He created timeless clothes that focused on good quality. His designs were inspired by sports and leisure wear from the 1920s.

At first, some fashion critics had doubts. But Margiela created several simple and elegant collections. These included loose-fitting suits and black evening dresses that were very stylish in a quiet way. Some of his original designs included a jacket that could be rolled up like a bag. He also made coats with collars and fasteners that could be removed. He designed the famous double-loop strap for the Cape Cod watch. Another popular item was the losange, a diamond-shaped scarf that became one of Hermès' bestsellers. All his shows for Hermès were held at their very fancy store in Paris.

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

Life After Fashion

After leaving the fashion world, Martin Margiela started creating art. He spent two years working with a foundation called Lafayette Anticipations. He created more than 40 artworks for his first solo art show. This show opened in October 2021.

Some of his art included silicon balls covered in human hair. He also made large paintings of dust particles. There were also empty spaces that showed the idea of an art show that is "unfinished and always changing."

See also

• Maison Margiela
• Deconstruction (fashion)
• John Galliano