Blazer
1990
spring-summer 1990
Medium
cotton, viscose, paint, leather and metal (fastenings)
Measurements
72.0 cm (centre back) 63.0 cm (sleeve length)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program, 2025
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
One of Martin Margiela’s most enduring design codes is his interest in anonymity and transgression. When funding was scarce, Margiela and Jenny Meirens collected furniture for their first storefront and painted it white to instil a sense of uniformity. This approach extended into his collections, as exemplified by this jacket. This trope has become synonymous with the designer and reflects his fascination with time and aging: the eventual peeling of paint acts as a postmodern marker of time, ephemerality and imperfection.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
France
Inscription
label, centre back neckline: (white cotton tape rectangle)
Accession Number
2025.724
Department
International Fashion and Textiles