From Cult Following to Global Critical Acclaim...
Since Martine Rose established her eponymous menswear brand in 2007, the London-based designer has looked to the capital for inspiration. Notably, her AW17′ collection was held in an indoor market in Seven Sisters, with models dressed in reworked versions of the uniforms of bankers, office workers and bus drivers.
PHOTO CREDIT: Esther Theaker
Rose’s creations are often influenced by the city’s subcultural melting pot and her youth spent in the rave and reggae scenes of the ’90s. While these references are a core part of her label’s DNA, Martine Rose is best known for her sportswear silhouettes, like the football shirt and shell suit. The Jamaican-British designer’s athletic inclinations have resulted in collaborations with Nike, where she reimagined the Swoosh’s iconic trainers with an unexpected twist. In 2019, Martine Rose played with the Air Monarch IV‘s dimensions, distorting its shape with PU inserts. Three years later, she transformed the Shox trainer into a backless heeled shoe, dubbed the Shox Mule MR4, blurring the lines between traditional masculine and feminine design codes.
Martine Rose’s star continues to ascend with every season and new collaboration. At the beginning of the year, she presented her AW23 collection for Pitti Uomo 2023 as the exclusive guest designer. In June 2023, at her SS24 show, she unveiled her latest collaboration with Clarks, where Rose holds the role of guest creative director. A month later, Nike and Martine Rose reunited on a unisex range of apparel, accessories and footwear, released in tandem with the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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Check out some more of Martine Rose’s key work so far below and let us know what you expect from the designer moving forward.
