Glenn Martens at Maison Margiela delivered a spellbinding Artisanal debut that fused house legacy with his own subversive, sculptural edge. It was modern couture with emotional intensity—and undeniable impact.

Where Couture Meets Grit

The setting—an abandoned Paris venue where Margiela last showed in 2008—set the stage for Martens’s poetic rebellion. From hoodies to hand-painted denim and 17th-century-inspired prints, every piece told a layered story.

A Dialogue Between Two Generations

Martens revived Margiela’s signatures—deconstruction, masks, and upcycling—with couture-level craftsmanship. In return, he injected his own irreverent language: algae-colored gowns, wet marble jersey drapes, and surreal silhouettes that moved like sculpture.

Scroll down for images from the show—each look is a moment in motion, built with emotion, precision, and edge.

Draped, Deformed, and Divine

This algae-hued, sculptural gown glistens like wet marble under gallery lights—a signature Glenn Martens twist that turns couture into living art. 

Visibly Appealing 

Glenn Martens challenges visibility—literally and metaphorically. This look pairs distressed metallic textures with a transparent vinyl cape and sculpted mask, creating a silhouette that questions identity, anonymity, and allure.

Mystery and Drama

This shadowy masterpiece is cloaked in mystery and drama. Glenn Martens merges gothic opulence with couture technique through a billowing, textured black cape and an encrusted headpiece that feels both ritualistic and revolutionary.

Blurring Gender and Identity

A poetic play on anonymity and elegance, this look wraps the model in silky black drapes and a patterned, face-covering scarf. Martens pushes the Maison’s ethos of deconstruction further—blurring gender, identity, and convention in one sweep.

The New Language of Couture

Martens’s collection felt like a cultural shift. It honored the house’s quiet rebellion while introducing a future-forward vision rooted in both tradition and transgression.