Maison Martin Margiela [Hardcover]

Maison Martin Margiela (Author), Jean-Paul Gaultier (Contributor), Susannah Frankel (Contributor), Andree Putman (Contributor), Vanessa Beecroft (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: October 27, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0847831884 | ISBN-13: 978-0847831883

Graduating from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the 1980s, Martin Margiela (and his contemporaries in the Antwerp Six) transformed global fashion with his aggressive restatement of traditional fashion design and a polemical approach to luxury trends. Working first with the house of Gaultier, Margiela absorbed the radical design of Japanese deconstruction, making it wholly his own with the founding of his own label in 1988. Margiela propounds a singular, enigmatic look, moving beyond the recognizable tropes of deconstruction—a monochromatic palette, outsized garments, non-traditional fabrics, exposed seams, or roughly appliquéd details—to develop a fully considered worldview, one with elegance, mystery, and menace in equal measure. This book provides an inside look at the design process from a craftsman who creates pieces prized for their originality, delicacy, and daring. In the spirit of Margiela’s garments, the book is a work of art in itself, designed exclusively by Margiela and complete with silver inks, ribbon markers, a variety of lush paper types, twelve booklets, and an embroidered white-linen cover. This book provides a window onto the intimate, handmade world of a unique designer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The first book to document the work—from fashion and art to design and performance—of the Paris-based Belgian couturiere, one of the reigning luminaries of the current fashion scene.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847831884
• ISBN-13: 978-0847831883
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 1.6 x 12.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Front Row, but Backstage May 14, 2002

By gigitralaine

Format:Paperback

Those expecting an exhaustive tomb of runway snapshots should look elsewhere. Indeed, even if such a book did exist, it would certainly do nothing to elucidate the significance of Margiela's contribution to fashion.

What this book does so well is to provide an entre to the designer's world, from inspiration, to creation, down to the very stitch and seam of his clothing. One is instantaneously struck by the simplicity and humility of his designs (a tank top made from a mesh laundry bag, boots with cloven hoofs), and yet is left more awed by not having noticed the world in this way before.

My only reservation in not giving this volume the highest marks is for the fact that many of the typography is extremely difficult to read. The white-colored text is printed directly on the photographs, which inevitably will lead to problems when the background color matches or closely matches the over-laid text.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I thought I was getting October 27, 2009

By Daoudmac

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

From the "Rizzoli" website introducing the book and detailing. " In the spirit of Margiela's garments, the book is a work of art in itself, designed exclusively by Margiela and complete with silver inks, ribbon markers, a variety of lush paper types, twelve booklets, and an embroidered white-linen cover. This book provides a window onto the intimate, handmade world of a unique designer." I did not get the white linen cover and or the book with any ribbon markers. Was a bit disappointed, it may be petty but just a big fan and love every nuance I can get from his Maison.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars addictive escapism October 30, 2009

By J. Seguin

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

MMM has been under intense scrutiny for the past few seasons due to the exit of their innovative torch carrier Margiela himself. So in a way I felt this book was a bit of an epitaph archiving the last 20 years of the brand. True to MMM style, it's abstract and beautiful (i may just need another copy to have several of the images framed.) It's complete sensory overload. I've been waiting months to receive this book, so I'm not sure if it could have ever lived up to my ridiculous expectations. I for one, find this kind of design as pure fashion escapism. That being said it's wonderful in size and content. The book is a bit traditional as far as modern printing techniques are concerned and I was secretly hoping the design would have been a bit more Margielian. Not that this book needed any additional trickery, the imagery is quite cerebral, sure to take you on an extremely intimate fashion odyssey. A must have for any devotee of the brand and sure to bring endless inspiration from your wardrobe to a global perspective on the very basic ideals of fashion. VIVA LA MARGIELA!