The Magic of Margiela

Photo credit: Marina Faust

If you haven't yet visited Martin Margiela's London shop which opened in March 2005, Maia Adams' report on the designer's latest Aristsanal lines might just persuade you.

Reworking clothes and objects into newly conceived garments and accessories has always been one of Martin Margiela's obsessions. Given their handmade nature, these Margiela pieces have traditionally been referred to as the 'Artisanal' lines: line '0' being for the women and '0 10' for the boys.

This season, both lines have been completely reconceived in a stark return to the source of their initial inspiration. Taking eight themes for men and eight for women, garments and items have been reworked totally by hand over a labour intensive three to four days per piece.

The result includes skirts made from mismatched pieces of tapestry, biker jackets constructed from leather patches and necklaces and bracelets created from the crystal drops of antique chandeliers.

Our favourite is a dress made from 1970's rock T-Shirts. The original images have been enhanced through rough, often naive, embroidery in wools or by the application of sequined stars which exaggerate the scene depicted. The T-shirts have then been cut by hand and interspersed with plain black T-shirt panels to give the skirt flare.

Photo credit: Marina Faust	Photo credit: Charlotte Leduc

The scarcity of the vintage raw materials used means that the total number of editions produced of each piece is extremely limited. In fact, only eight of each style will be made and one will be available at each of the eight Martin Margiela shops worldwide.

What's more, if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of these pieces, you need to be quick. Each item will only be in store for a month before it is replaced by another, equally rare piece. Now that's what we call limited edition.

Martin Margiela's shop is at 1-9 Bruton Place W1 London. Telephone: 020 7629 26 82.

Prices for Martin Margiela's Arstisanal pieces start from £225 (a belt) up to £2640 (for a leather jacket).

Visit the Martin Margiela website for full stockist details.