Maison Martin Margiela was founded in 1988 by Martin Margiela alongside Jenny Meirens. He believed creativity should come before industry, and prioritized creativity over commercialism. Margiela's approach to fashion was unconventional as the brand never ran advertisements, refused interviews, and used white labels with four white stitches at the back collar that could be removed easily to avoid claiming ownership. This style of minimalist branding had never been seen before Martin Margiela. While fashion houses continued to produce conventional designs, emerging designers like Margiela focused on minimalism and conceptual design. Their aim was to simplify garments to their most fundamental parts, transform them, and give them a new identity.
Martin Margiela used deconstructionism to create his unconventional designs and kept the focus on the clothes themselves. His designs were not only technically brilliant but also represented a new vision of feminine elegance characterized by anti-fashion values and anti-status symbolism. Despite the fashion industry's increasing emphasis on labels and branding, avant-garde fashion enthusiasts have long admired Maison Martin Margiela for its attitude and aesthetic but after contributing to fashion immensely and changing norms, Martin Margiela abruptly left the Maison in 2009. Although Maison Martin Margiela was originally known for its approach going against to fashion trends, there has been a shift from the original foundation laid down by Martin Margiela. Over time, the brand has become somewhat synonymous with the popular Tabi shoe due to the influence of social media, years after his departure from the Maison. Despite the changes, the recent craze for Tabi shoes proves once again that Martin Margiela’s powerful designs will continue to impact fashion and his legacy will last forever.
Photo by Ronald Stoops @ronaldstoops