The Woman Behind Margiela

In the spirit of the Women’s March I thought I’d draw your attention to some of the important women in fashion that don’t get the recognition that their male counterparts do. Fashion is about more than just clothes, it’s about branding. The only reason people fork out more than the odds for an item of clothing is because they are buying into a lifestyle. While logos aren’t always a trend I’ve often wondered about the legendary Martin Margiela branding. The plain white square stitched onto the clothing with 4 white stitches gives nothing away, but for those in the know, it tells you everything.

It’s a masterclass in minimal branding and perfectly encapsulates the Margiela brand ethos and aesthetic. In a recent New York Times article I learned that this idea, amongst many others, can actually be attributed to Jenny Meirens, Margiela’s long time creative and business partner. The article outlines some of the iconic things the pair did together and really throws some much deserved light on Meirens achievements. I remember a similar article years ago during Stella McCartney’s tenure at Chloé, that detailed Phoebe Philo’s influence over some of the label’s most iconic items. In the current political climate we should all take some time to shine the spotlight on the important women who don’t get the credit they deserve.

[Meirens portrait by Danilo Scarpati]