Maison Martin Margiela

[BECOMING-INTENSE]

It's amazing what they can come up with.

[underdog]

Some comments from the current "Maison" here:

http://slamxhype.com/fashion/maison-martin-margiela-is-changing/

[Stijn]

2 short interviews:

from: Modern menswear, Hywel Davies (2008)

1. describe your menswear design philosophy.
'Virility, individuality, masculinity without age'

2. What is the most enjoyable part of design?
'The conception, it's research, the inspiration.'

3. How would you describe your customer?
'Disparate, yet mainly from the creative fields.'

4. How would you describe your creative process and what fuels your design process?
'Continuous and drawn from day-to-day life with a reference to periods or our recent past where men were more resplendent than recently.

5. Does your design process always follow the same track?
'Not always yet usually, like most things instinctive.'

6. How would you define successful menswear?
'Invisible, melded with the person so much so that they both become one.'

7. How improtant is masculinity in menswear?
'Vital.'

8. How would you describe contemporary menswear?
'For the moment it seems to be eccentrically varied yet with a leaning towards 1980s music references.'

9. How do you know when a garment is complete?
'You just do!'

10. What is the most challenging aspect of design?
'Pushing forward yet remaining true to the authenticity of the garment.'

11. How many of your menswear ideas are based on tradition?
'Practically all, yet one man's tradition can be another's poison.'

12. How are you personally innovative/modern with menswear?
'That's for others to decide we just ''do'', continue and hopefully grow.'

13. How would you define your aesthetic?
'A sensibility, sensuality, a ''self''.'


From the Margiela book:

Maison Martin Margiela for view on Colour 04/02/1998

(BEGINS)

WHAT IS COLOUR?
An intensity, a temperature, a clash, a harmony.
AND
HOW DO YOU USE IT?
When it asks.
WHAT IS BLACK?
An absence, a presence, a mood, a mantle.
WHAT IS RED?
A blush, a flush, a fever, a command.
WHAT IS SKIN?
A protection.
WHAT IS FABRIC?
A medium.
WHAT IS TEXTURE?
A result of time.
WHAT IS CONSTRUCTION?
A means to an end.
WHAT IS FUNCTION?
A reply to a need.
WHAT IS ART?
A need to reply.
WHAT IS CRAFTMANSHIP?
A fruit of time.
WHAT IS CLOTHING?
The final layer.
WHAT IS FASHION?
A series of propositions.
WHAT IS RECYCLING?
Another chance.
HOW DOES RECYCLING FIT INTO YOUR WORK?
By nature.
HOW DOES A CONCEPT DEVELOP AT MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA?
Time, a question, a reply.
HOW DOES A CONCEPT DEVELOP AT HERMES?
Time, another question, another reply.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEVELOP? BESIDES CLOTHING?
An understanding.
WHAT WORDS DO YOU LIVE BY?
We.

(ENDS)

[ISM]

"Saks Fifth Avenue understands the artisanal nature of this project, and their clientele is extremely sophisticated. That is the market we are reaching for with this fragrance.” Oh, really?

haha... they think we're stupid. so much commercial bullshit lately.

[michael_kard]

over a long period time of quiet observation

5char

[Faust]

I've tried very hard to be fair and to really make a fair judgment on MM's work. Although I am no position to make such claim, I have always felt and came to the conclusion over a long period time of quiet observation that MM's work is overrated. This is not to discredit all of his work in the past because there has been many instances where sudden burst of awe and inspiration would appear from watching his work, but even those emotions would generally subside in the long run from his mediocre and repetitive work. While I believe that many designers out there have progressed and continued to evolve, MM has not evolved in my opinion. Past glory cannot continue to justify the acceptance from the fashion world that MM cherishes now.

Why can't we love designers for the things they have achieved in the past? And while it's true that much of the menswear is quite standard issue, the women's has always been exciting.

And also, please slow down with speedposting. I can't figure you out - sometimes you say something worthwhile, but the rest looks like spam.

[interest1]

I've tried very hard to be fair and to really make a fair judgment on MM's work. Although I am no position to make such claim, I have always felt and came to the conclusion over a long period time of quiet observation that MM's work is overrated. This is not to discredit all of his work in the past because there has been many instances where sudden burst of awe and inspiration would appear from watching his work, but even those emotions would generally subside in the long run from his mediocre and repetitive work. While I believe that many designers out there have progressed and continued to evolve, MM has not evolved in my opinion. Past glory cannot continue to justify the acceptance from the fashion world that MM cherishes now.

Personally, the narrower the aesthetic, the greater my allegiance.
.

[ittalidaa]

that evening, i go through a list of margielas in the belgian phone directory hoping that someone can bring a reality to the designer. there are about a dozen of them and i pick a number at random. someone answers almost immediately. “yes hello i’m writing a piece on martin margiela… ” i say. “he’s my brother,” interrupts a gentle, male voice on the other end. “but i don’t speak about him.” it is an abrupt call, but it confirms that martin margiela is real. he’s not a ghost or a woman.

[MASUGNEN]

He's said to look like CCP.

[michael_kard]

I'd never seen these photos before. The man looks fine.

He's said to look like CCP.

Sometimes I feel you're the SZ equivalent to The Sun.

[cowsareforeating]

^ tell me moar. is it too expensive like soloist?

[kyokonoie]

I like MMM "Artizanal" which is "0" or "010" number.
It's the best and there are many collectors over the world.

[Faust]

I like sugar candy. It's the best.

[georgi]

Carol is taller than Martin, but they look quite similar, yes!

He's said to look like CCP.

[MASUGNEN]

Carol is taller than Martin, but they look quite similar, yes!

Do they wear eachother's clothes?