Watch Martin Margiela: In His Own Words

Martin Margiela: In His Own Words is a 2019 documentary film directed by Reiner Holzemer that recounts the life and career of the reclusive Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela. Through a series of interviews with Margiela and his colleagues, the film offers a glimpse into the mind of a designer who has been celebrated for his intellectualism, creativity, and avant-garde approach.

The film opens with footage of Margiela at his Parisian studio, where his team is preparing for a runway show. This sets the stage for a candid look at Margiela's design process and his commitment to innovation. Throughout the film, we see Margiela working with unconventional materials and techniques, and we hear him speak about his desire to challenge the norms of the fashion industry.

The documentary is structured around a series of interviews with Margiela, which are punctuated by archival footage and commentary from Margiela's colleagues, including fashion journalist Cathy Horyn, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and fashion industry executive Pierre Rougier. The film also features footage of Margiela's runway shows and installations, which showcase his boundary-pushing designs.

One of the most compelling aspects of the film is the way it explores Margiela's anonymity. For most of his career, Margiela refused to appear in public or give interviews, which only added to the mystery surrounding his persona. In the film, Margiela opens up about his decision to remain anonymous and explains that it was a way to shift the focus onto his designs and away from his personal life.

The film also offers insights into the way Margiela's upbringing influenced his work. Margiela grew up in a middle-class family in Belgium and was fascinated by the way working-class people would creatively repurpose clothing to suit their needs. This led him to experiment with deconstruction and repurposing in his own designs, a technique that would become a hallmark of his aesthetic.

Throughout the film, Margiela is portrayed as an uncompromising creative force who wasn't afraid to buck trends or embrace controversy. We see footage of his famous 1996 runway show, in which models appeared in dresses made of raw meat, and we hear about his decision to use Second World War-era German military fabric in his designs.

Despite his willingness to push boundaries, Margiela was also deeply committed to sustainability and ethical production. The film highlights his use of recycled materials and his refusal to use fur or leather in his designs, as well as his decision to resign from his position at Hermes in protest of the company's use of exotic animal skins.

Overall, Martin Margiela: In His Own Words is a fascinating portrait of a designer who has had a profound impact on the fashion industry. Through his own words and the commentary of those who know him, we gain a better understanding of his creative process and his vision for fashion as a form of self-expression and social commentary. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in fashion, design, or creative innovation.

Martin Margiela: In His Own Words is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 70.