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.
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