Hi!
In honor of Maison Martin Margiela’s 20th anniversary, a retrospective exhibit has opened at Somerset House. Although the brand is under the Diesel umbrella it thankfully has maintained its concept based approach to design, which was even reflected in the deconstructed and minimalistic displays. In traditional Margiela fashion, each room of the exhibit uses various shades of white. The first room has kitsch statues, like a giant white hand (about the size of 10, size 2 models) holding an oversized cue card, which lists the title of each room. There is also a clear plastic blow-up boot, in the shape of the hoof footed Tabi shoes the house has been producing since its inception, which sits next to a collection of silver chrome Tabi shoes. Other iconic displays include jackets drenched in white paint sitting next to a life-sized red London phone booth that has been covered in white (which I wanted to take home with me).
All models, featured in blow-up prints, had their eyes or entire faces masked, as any Margiela runway show would do. This continued the label’s ‘incognito’ theme of not wanting to be recognized as celebrity designers, but by their work. The special occasion was closed out by a ‘birthday room.’ Oversized couches and high-backed chairs, adorned with white slip covers, were assembled in a circle, facing outward, so that visitors could watch past runway shows, behind-the-scenes footage, stills from the collections, and private clients modeling their personal wardrobes in their own homes, on over 20 monitors of various sizes. As visitors sat in the big chairs, white confetti at their feet crept into the soles of their shoes as a lingering memento of a once in a lifetime experience. Upon exiting, various ‘presents’ were available, for purchase of course, for the first time since the label opened: the fragrance ‘Untitled’, the trompe l’oeil wallpaper which mimicked the French doors in the atelier at 163 rue Saint Maur and white, feathered pens. The exhibit was seamless, well-planned, and festive, as any birthday celebration should be.
The exhibit will close on September 5th so that the space can be
prepared for London Fashion Week (http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/).
-Article by Christian McKenzie