MARGIELA MONDAY

On paper, the appointment of John Galliano as the new Creative Director of Maison Martin Margiela is one of the most unlikely in fashion history. Margiela is the eponymous fashion house built by the elusive Belgian designer; an avant-garde reaction to the maximalist culture of the 1980s. With his unique brand of minimalism and label-less garments, the designer created a cult following based around anonymity and cultural iconoclasm. On the other hand, Galliano is a romancier as obsessed with excess as he seemingly is with his own public image, to the extent that his finale walk often garnered more column inches than the collections themselves. Unsurprisingly, the fashion world waited with bated breath to see the grand unveiling of Galliano's debut Artisanal showing for the house, so much so that the event even spawned its own hashtag, #MargielaMonday. So, the question remains; was it worth the wait?

FASHION REVOLUTION

Thursday, 24th April 2014. Today is the day that Fashion Revolution's 'Inside Out' campaign is set to take centre stage on social media; already the hashtag is trending worldwide with the likes of Susie Bubble showing support for the campaign and prompting us to ask ourselves who makes the clothing we wear. It's a question that has often been raised in the past, and one that remains largely unanswered by several companies that have previously been investigated for the use of sweatshop workers. It's obvious that we can't all afford a wardrobe of custom-made couture; the extent of our wardrobe is largely governed by our wallets, so how can we be sure to make ethical choices without paying more?

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA ARTISANAL, S/S 2014

The fashion industry is renowned for its concentrated view on the concept of ‘trend’, meaning that the clothes we buy now will undoubtedly end up in Oxfam before the year is out. With its ‘Artisanal’ collection, the maison of Martin Margiela is seeking to reclaim these discarded fabrics and turn them into something which is both one-of-a-kind and timeless. The couture line is still relatively new, with this season marking its fourth showing under the official umbrella of Couture Fashion Week – meaning that expectations were raised.