The Details on Glenn Martens' New Role at Margiela, Succeeding John Galliano
Glenn Martens is the new creative director of Maison Margiela, the brand revealed in a Wednesday morning announcement.
The Belgian designer will succeed John Galliano, who departed from the luxury fashion house in December 2024 after a decade-long run. OTB Group, Maison Margiela's parent company, did not specify when exactly Martens would start his new position or reveal his first show.
"I have worked with Glenn for years. I have witnessed his talent and I know what he is capable of," Renzo Rosso, OTB chairman, said in a statement. He added that Martens "has already shown his prowess and his vision in couture." Succeeding Galliano (behind the viral 2024 Artisanal Collection with Pat McGrath's porcelain doll face makeup) will be no easy feat, but Martens has tried his hand at couture a bit, namely in guest designing a 2022 Jean Paul Gaultier collection.
The 41-year-old designer will join Maison Margiela, founded by Martin Margiela, while still serving as creative director at Diesel, where he has been since 2020. At the brand, also majority owned by OTB, he made his mark with innovative textiles (like sheer, dégradé denims) and provocation (see his Fall/Winter 2023 show with 200,000 condoms in the center of the runway and an NSFW soundtrack). He also led Y/Project, concurrently as Diesel for many years, before leaving in September 2024. Y/Project shuttered January 2025.
Though it has seemed like creative directors at fashion houses are one big game of musical chairs over the past several years, there's no doubt that moves have accelerated over the past year. In 2024 alone, Chanel named its new creative director after Virginie Viard's exit. Bottega Veneta knighted Louise Trotter as its new lead designer. Kim Jones left Fendi, and Hedi Slimane left Celine. Alessandro Michele took the reigns at Valentino. More recently, Proenza Schouler's co-founding duo stepped down, with no official news yet on what's next (likely Dior). The list goes on. Martens' appointment also marks a new era in the industry and a new chapter for couture.