Enter Maison Martin Margiela

Check out these amazing wonders from the archives of Maison Martin Margiela.

Founded in 1988, Maison Martin Margiela has been the maker of uber cool pieces for those who can afford it. The price is high and reflects the tenets that the house adhere by for every piece in a collection, using only the highest quality materials, a commitment to details, super tailoring and most of all, infusing each piece with a jolt of pure design and humor that causes people to really stop and reconsider the garment they are wearing.

The Maison Martin Margiela label features products from 0-23, with each number delineating a different  consumer target, for example 11 is accessories and 22 is  for shoes.  I am most interested in  0, the artisanal  line. Each piece in the line is a reconstructed garment, handmade, and completely unique. I know there's haute couture which is way out there and then there is the ultimate achievement in terms of DYI.

Under each picture, you'll find the object as described by Maison Martin Margiela along with the time it took do complete each project.

" FOX STOLE IN PARTY PAPER BALLS "
A stole is made from an combination of party paper balls. They are hand dyed with China ink in various shades of grey. The assembling is done by hand using a weaving technique. Each stole is composed of 2500 paper balls.

Time: 55 hours

" DISCO BALL TOP "

Small mirror squares are assembled as a top. These small tiles like those found on a facetted disco ball are glued on an open-back top lined in black leather.

Time : 45 hours

" ELASTIC JACKET "
A plaiting of elastic bands creates a jacket. Various widths and qualities of elastics are plaited directly on the dummy to make a jacket. The different types of elastics brings a particular colour to each garment.

Time: 29 hours

 

FISHNET DRESS
A fishing net is directly draped on a dummy to create a long evening dress.

Time: 42 hours

" PEARLY DRESS "
Vintage buttons are embroidered on a silk chiffon to create a bit-mapped effect motif. Two rectangular pieces of silk muslin are assembled to form a dress. The front is embroidered with various buttons of mother-of-pearl, metal, plastic to draw a mouth.

Time: 25 hours

" VELVET RIBBON TOP " 
      A velvet ribbon becomes a top. The ribbon is folded and applied on a dummy, to wrap the body in order to build a top.

Time: 16 hours

" OVERSIZE T-SHIRT "
An extra large T-shirt is partially slashed in bands to create a circular motif. The new armhole is made with a series of hand-made knots.

Time: 19 hours

" UMBRELLA RAINJACKET  "
Assembling four umbrellas that overlap each other and form a short rainjacket. The original details, such as the ferrules, are maintained on the finished article and the Velcro straps become the wrist fastenings.

Time: 29 hours

Hmm...a garment fashioned from umbrellas. Where did I hear that one before...Check out this Balenciaga inspired dress made from recycled umbrellas.

" FOOTBALL JACKET "
A leather jacket is made of footballs. The balls are cut up, flattened and applied on leather similar to the rubbery inner tube of the ball.

Time: 35 hours

" PEARLY SHIRT "
The plastron of a vintage shirt is embroidered with various buttons in mother-of-pearl, metal and plastic, composing the drawing of an eye.

Time: 20 hours

Images: Maison Martin Margiela