Book: Maison Martin Margiela

In times where it's hard to keep anything from the public domain, Martin Margiela is one of fashion's more enigmatic characters. As such, a spanking new tome highlighting his myriad creative achievements, to be released next month, is intriguing and insightful; not so much an access-all-areas, more a refined insight into the workings of one of our favourite contemporary fashion houses.

In a similar vein to the majority of his previous projects, it's a polished, whimsical, covetable affair. Bound in Margiela’s signature, starched white muslin and embroidered with his discrete 0-23 logo; the exterior sets the tone of what’s to come inside.

Predominantly picture based, the 3.5cm thick book charts the span of Margiela’s influence and career, from his 2008’s blonde wig jacket and 1999’s Duvet coat, to 1999’s painted white men’s shoes and 2008’s skin-toned body suits.

With contributions from the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier, Andree Putman, Vanessa Beecroft and Carine Roitfeld, the book also outlines some of Margiela’s typically avant garde exhibitions, with 2006’s seminal outing at the Pitti Uomo in Florence and a show at the V&A in 2001.

Margiela’s creative output for the past two decades is extensive to say the least, most recently branching into homeware at Salone 2009. Good news for die hard fans, meaning you can now wear, sit on and read Margiela all at the same time.

The white cotton embroidered front cover, emulating Margiela's stark labeling


The first jacket from 1989's premier SS collection (left), Margiela staff members walking under a confetti of silver snow in celebration of 2009's 20th anniversary (right)


2009's Maison Martin Margiela exhibition in Antwerp (left), Various Margiela Tabi boots featured in collections from 1989 until 1996


Backstage at the 1991 SS women's show (left) The first Margiela store to open in Los Angeles back in 2007 (right)


A suit from Margiela's first ever men's collection in 1999 (left), Backstage in a knee-length bull's eye dress in 2007 (right)


AW 1999 with a silver, hand-painted Artisanal raincoat and cork necklace (left), some 2005 Margiela coverage in the International Herald Tribune


A calico waistcoat from 1997's Autumn Winter collection, featuring tailors markings (left), the Maison Martin Margiela headquarters on the Rue Saint-Maur, Paris (right)


A telegram invitation to 1989's premier SS 1989 show (left) Margiela'a first men's painted shoe collection from 1999


A shot from 2000's Oversized collection (left), The Ebisu store in Tokyo which opened back in 2000 (right)


An oversized, destroyed dress from 2009's spring summer collection (left), A series of shots from 1990's Spring Summer collection, including white confetti scattered by models during the show and a 200% size


Margiela's line of White Russian Dolls which have been around since 2002 (left), Autumn Winter 2001's womenswear collection invitation (right)


Backstage at the women's Spring Summer 2009 show featuring a negative photograph of 1989's first jacket (left), the line up board from 1992's Spring Summer show


Stenciled stairs at Margiela's Parisian headquarters (left), backstage at 2007's Autumn Winter women's show with coats made out of padded sequin rings (right)


A lining shot from Autumn Winter 2008's Sartorial collection (left), A fur jacket made out of blonde wigs for Autumn Winter 2008's Line 0


A men's dinner jacket from Spring Summer 2000 women's show (left), backstage in black

© by Wmagazine


INFORMATION

Maison Martin Margiela is published by Rizzoli, New York and costs £50 per copy

Website
http://www.maisonmartinmargiela.com