In case you haven’t noticed, “community” has become the buzzword of the post-digital era. It’s in brand manifestos. It’s in just about every set of runway show notes. And it’s a term that has lost its meaning from overuse. But if there’s one place where the word community still rings true, it’s at Martine Rose. Whether it’s the London rave scene, BDSM subcultures, or geeks and obsessive gardeners or football hooligans, the London based designer imbues her work with unexpected stories told by and for her community. She is interested, she says frequently, in outsiders. Her expertise lies in world-building, at all times inclusive of recognizable design signatures in extreme proportions and humorous executions of classic menswear codes. And in the 15 years of running her namesake brand, the perception of Martine’s creativity has evolved from something indie or niche and into a trailblazing leader of global conversations. She has always been ahead of the game, and it took some time for the world to catch on. After years of consulting for Demna at Balenciaga and the incensent rumors of her taking the LV-labeled baton from the late Virgil Abloh, the ascent of Martine Rose doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Her latest project?
Photography Bella Newman
Story by Dino Bonačić
All clothing by TOMMY JEANS X MARTINE ROSE.