'Martin Margiela: In His Own Words': Release date, plot, trailer and all you need to know about the documentary on Banksy of fashion
Over the last century, the fashion industry thrived and transformed under the creative geniuses who greatly influenced the way we dress. Frequently associated with the term 'icons', fashion designers have pushed boundaries and channeled their vision creating a whole new era of style and trends. Among those that radicalized the way we perceive the modern fashion industry is legendary designer Martin Margiela, founder of Maison Margiela.
Margiela emerged as one of the most innovative designers to leave the fashion world gobsmacked with his conceptualized and avant-garde creations. However, in his time working in the industry, he never once appeared in public. Thus, Margiela's identity has always been shrouded in mystery. Now, a new documentary is shining light on the Belgian designer's legacy, where we get to hear him speak on his life and career spanning 20 plus years and 41 collections. Here's what you need to know about 'Martin Margiela: In His Own Words’.
Release date
'Martin Margiela: In His Own Words’ will be available on-demand on August 14.
Plot
After celebrating the 20th anniversary of his fashion house in 2008, the enigmatic and visionary Belgian fashion designer Margiela left the fashion world for good. During his 20 plus years in the fashion industry, Margiela never once showed his face to the public. He never appeared at the end of the runway, neither did he pose for any magazines and all his interviews have always been in the third person, leading the world to refer to him as the Banksy of fashion. More than a decade after his departure, in 'Martin Margiela: In His Own Words', the designer will finally divulge his life secrets, appearing in a documentary based on his life, career and his significant contribution to fashion. Although Margiela doesn't make a physical appearance throughout the course of the film, he does narrate parts of the documentary.
The unscripted film looks at Margiela's beginnings from serving as Jean Paul Gaultier's assistant to becoming the creative director at Hermès and beyond. It also touches upon the launch of his eponymous label and his avant-garde approach to fashion that constitute 41 eminent collections between 1988 and 2008. The film also displays some of his sketches and the notes on fashion, from the time. Margiela talks about his childhood, his love for fashion, his enigmatic nature, inspirations and the reason he left his own label. An intimate profile of the designer, the film also features candid interviews with Jean-Paul Gaultier, Margiela's muse Kristina De Coninck, trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort, Carine Roitfeld, fashion critic Cathy Horyn and fashion historian Olivier Saillard.
Creator
Written, directed and co-produced by Reiner Holzemer, the film production was handled in collaboration with veteran documentary film producer Aminata Sambe of Brussels-based Aminata Productions and Villa Eugénie. The background score has been composed by the Belgian rock band dEUS. The film is distributed by Dogwoof productions.
Trailer
"I don’t like the idea of being a celebrity. Anonymity is very important to me. Anonymity for me was a protection," says Margiela in the trailer, "I always wanted to have my name linked to the product I created, not to the face I have.”
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