Step into the transcendent world of Maison Margiela’s Artisanal 2025 collection, where Glenn Martens reimagines Northern European history through the lens of fashion. Rooted in the Gothic architecture of Flanders and the Netherlands, the collection channels verticality and sacred volume—towering silhouettes, sculptural anatomy, and saintly forms echo the majesty of medieval façades. A hauntingly beautiful symphony of past and future—crafted, not just worn.
Craft meets illusion with corsetry, draping, and anatomical precision that turns the body into a canvas. Flemish floral wallpaper, once embossed leather, now reappears as print, overlay, and textile, while Dutch still-life collages—flowers and game—are sculpted into three-dimensional forms. Brushstrokes inspired by Gustave Moreau are reinterpreted as trompe l’oeil garments, veiling the figure in marble-like drapery and lace-as-skin.
Raw, repurposed materials—vintage leather, upcycled linings, plastic, even office paper—form a tactile contrast to the collection’s elegance. Masks obscure identity, centering attention on the artistry, while the iconic Tabi is reborn as claw-toe boots and wedge sandals. All unfolds against a surreal set layered in palatial collage, with a deconstructed Smashing Pumpkins soundtrack echoing through the space.
