Martin Margiela is the mastermind behind MMM (Maison Martin Margiela), the artist has forever been elusive in regards to his own life and person, instead, he lets his art and brand do the talking for him. The Belgian designer who is aged 61 has essentially remained anonymous with no official photography of him appearing anywhere. The Enigma code that is Martin is finally set to unravel himself next year with a new documentary that is being directed by Reiner Holzemer & distributed by Dogwoof, a UK film distribution company that has previously worked with huge names in the fashion industry such as Dries (2017), which followed the story of Belgian designer Dries Van Noten.
“We are thrilled to work on the story of such an enigmatic and mysterious designer,” said Dogwoof’s head of sales, Ana Vicente, to Variety. “Even more so given that extraordinarily, it’s the first time Margiela has agreed to be part of any film about his life or work.” – Which is a very true reaction, he is the last person you would expect to see have a documentary as he has remained virtually silent throughout his entire life, so for any avid Margiela follower this will be an insightful watch that has been eagerly anticipated, I know I’ll definitely be watching it.
The documentary is set to release in 2019 and is hoping to premiere in Cannes.
Whilst you wait for that release you can shop our Maison Margiela collection, which features the latest t-shirts, accessories & sneakers.
Spring is finally upon us and we can start to de-layer and look forward to showing a bit more flesh. For now, however, we’re in that up and down phase where it isn’t quite safe to take too much of a risk but we have started to dig out our summer cotton for some of that spring layering. Here’s our idea of a perfect mid-week ensemble for you to wake up that spring wardrobe ready for some summer action. Time to turn up those chino bottoms, throw on a cotton shirt and remember a sweater.
Today’s outfit features cotton pants by Albam, light cotton shirt by Folk, cotton sweatshirt and marl knit socks by Norse Projects, suede and leather trainers by Maison Margiela. We thought we’d add one of our favourite newcomers, this Grenson, citrus and deep musk scented candle. Mainly because it’s scent is now filling the living rooms of quite a few of us here at Aphrodite HQ and we want to share the love.
This season we welcomed Japanese label Commes des Garçons Shirtto the Aphrodite family and as their array of t-shirts are too good not to shout about we thought we’d make some form of an introduction by teaming our favourite edition, the Tartan Logo T-Shirt, with a few pieces from the brand’s Paris based neighbours, thus providing a bit of fashion trivia along the way.
As French as Comme des Garcons Shirt may at first glance appear, it is always as a surprise that many learn its Japanese (Tokyo) origins and the brand is most certainly not alone in this theme as there are others who follow a similar suit, APC for instance, a Paris based brand founded by Tunisian fashion designer Jean Touitou. While designers Martin Margiela, of another Paris based label Maison Margiela, and Raf Simons, who held a three-year title as Dior’s creative director, are both of Belgian descent.
Today’s outfit features tartan text t-shirt by Comme des Garçons Shirt, black oversized hoodie by Maison Margiela, black jeans by APC, burgundy Ozweego III trainers by Adidas x Raf Simons and not forgetting this black logo backpack by Y3‘s Yohji Yamamoto because you cant speak of Paris and not include this technical genius, click link to see what we mean!
This weekend called for an agenda free kick back in preparation for the bank holiday ahead. Nipping out for a paper, a coffee or meeting a friend for an afternoon bite was about as strenuous as it got and we’re easing into the new week with contentment. With that in mind we thought we’d throw together a nice, easy but comfortable (and of course stylish) ensemble that wouls perfectly depict your future lazy weekend intentions.
It was classically refined comfort all round last week as we got a sneak peek at the Maison Margiela and APC SS18 collection pieces (in store and online now) and this green striped, terry cloth, crew neck really caught our eye for numerous reasons. Styled here with APC soft jersey joggers, AMI heavy denim jacket, CDG x Spalwart trainers and wallet by APC … accessorise with a coffee carry cup, newspaper under arm and your favourite sunnies. We would like to point out that this is also a perfect travel outfit, not that we’re trying put ideas into your head though, just a passing thought!
For those in the know, the Maison Margiela Replica sneaker is the very definition of a modern classic: inspired by a purely functional trainer used by the German army in the 70s, the Replica uses the finest Italian craftsmanship and premium leathers to elevate the silhouette to a luxurious footwear option for any casual outfit. Forming the basis of the core Margiela footwear collection, the Replica sneaker returns to Aphrodite once again this season, along with two new additions to our lineup: the Mid Top and Retro Runner sneakers.
The Mid-Top sneaker is a brand new style for this season, a minimal take on classic moccasin styles merged with a skate influence. The uppers are crafted from luxurious calf leather and suede with hidden elasticated gussets for a comfortable fit, while square leather laces are looped through the ankle for extra support, all sat atop a solid rubber sole unit. Butter-soft leather linings and a cushioned insole finish off this ultra-premium sneaker.
The Retro Runner is part of the same family as the Replica sneaker, sharing similar detailing to the original but translated into a rugged vintage trail running silhouette, with mixed leather, suede and mesh uppers, cushioned foam midsole and a cleated Italian rubber outsole for superior grip. The materials, construction and comfort are all top-notch as to be expected, and the chunky profile of the shoe is ideal for pairing with slim or cuffed trousers for a stylish look.
Finally, the iconic Replica Sneaker itself returns in three all-new colourways: tonal black and white options, along with a 70s-inspired light blue and gum makeup that would be perfect to keep aside until the warmer months. All feature the usual Italian calf leather uppers with suede overlays to the toe, heel and sides, solid rubber soles and woven cotton laces, and are finished with typically low-key branding, simply displaying the iconic Margiela label to the tongue.
The Maison Margiela brand formed in 1988 following Martin Margiela’s stint as design legend Jean-Paul Gaultier’s assistant. The trend for larger-than-life designers and clothing was in full swing; contemporaries like Thierry Mugler and Christian Lacroix delivered ostentatious, bold designs and a burst of personality to match. Margiela, a Belgian living in Paris who’d studied alongside other forward-thinkers like Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester, sought to turn this trend on its head, eschewing almost all publicity for himself — he was famously described as “fashion’s invisible man” for his refusal to have his photograph taken and his habit of delivering most communication via fax — and often obscuring models’ faces to let the clothes speak for themselves. And what clothes they were; taking an avant-garde approach to design, Margiela’s garments were deconstructed and reconstructed again, with a particular emphasis on the colour white, utilising sharp tailoring and unconventional materials to present a uniquely future-facing aesthetic.
These qualities have established Maison Margiela as one of the most influential design houses of the last few decades, with its hallmarks seen in the works of celebrated designers such as Raf Simons and Vetements’ Demna Gvasalia. While Margiela himself left the brand sometime before 2009, the helm is now steered by fashion firebrand John Galliano, who has put his own stamp on the brand, earning mass acclaim from the fashion press.
Four White Stitches
Where many brands use bold logos and branding, Maison Margiela takes a more discreet approach: each piece has its identifier label tacked to the garment with four white stitches that are visible from the outside – usually positioned to the reverse neck. These four white stitches, while subtle, are an instant signifier to those in the know that you’re wearing Margiela, although they were originally solely a practical consideration – the stitches were used for the labels to make them easy to remove if you wanted a completely unbranded garment.
What Do the Numbers on Maison Margiela Labels Mean?
One notable thing about Margiela products is the striking label: consisting of the numbers 0-23, with one circled to represent the capsule each piece belongs to. In keeping with its concept of anonymity, the Maison isn’t upfront about what each number represents, but fashion experts have managed to piece together the puzzle and help decipher another facet of this enigmatic brand:
0: “Artisanal” collection for women & men. This is the haute-couture collection, representing the pinnacle of the design team’s vision.
1: Women’s mainline collection
3: Fragrances
4: Women’s wardrobe basics
6 / mm6: Women’s diffusion line including clothes, shoes, and accessories
8: Eyewear collection
10: Men’s mainline collection
11: Accessories, including jewellery, small leather goods and bags
12: A higher-end jewellery collection
13: Publications and ‘objects’; homewares
14: Men’s wardrobe basics
15: A short-lived mail-order collection with Belgian company 3 Suisses
22: Dedicated footwear collection
Additionally, there is a capsule collection dubbed ‘Replica’, which consists of painstaking replicas of garments and shoes from the past, with a label describing the original piece and its origins.
We’re proud to announce that we now stock the premium brand Maison Margiela both in store and online at Aphrodite.
When Martin Margiela formed his namesake brand in 1988, after a stint as design legend Jean-Paul Gaultier’s assistant, the trend for larger-than-life designers and clothing was in full swing: contemporaries like Thierry Mugler and Christian Lacroix delivered both ostentatious, bold designs and a cult of personality to match. Margiela, a Belgian living in Paris who’d studied alongside other forward-thinkers like Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester, sought to turn this trend on its head, eschewing almost all publicity for himself — he was famously described as “fashion’s invisible man” for his refusal to have his photograph taken and his habit of delivering most communication via fax — and often obscuring models’ faces to let the clothes speak for themselves.
Here at Aphrodite we have a range of Maison Margiela staple garments, such as the pinstripe beige shirt, charcoal roll neck jumper and a crew neck elbow patch jumper in black. Other items include the distinctive Pollock wallet, a staple wallet featuring unique paint splashes inspired by contemporary artist Paul Jackson Pollock.
