The Maison Martin Margiela Spring 2011 collection provides a two-dimensional feel with its box-cut pieces.
The boards on the featured garments were upholstered in androgynous looks of boyfriend blazers and menswear pants. Looks like the designer is trying to tell us that straight lines and strong shoulders are the in-look for the coming seasons. Check out the featured gallery to see these boxy models catwalk down the runway.
Implications - After viewing these pictures, I found myself imagining what these same clothes would look like if the models down the runway were men. Personally, I love the concept of re-appropriating men's clothing for women. This is an example of what happens when it's done right.
Boarded Up Fashion
The Maison Martin Margiela Spring 2011 Collection Flattens Out the Runway
Trend Themes
1. Gender-bending Fashion - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the re-appropriation of men's clothing for women, creating androgynous fashion statements.
2. Boxy Silhouettes - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Experiment with two-dimensional, box-cut pieces to provide a unique and avant-garde fashion aesthetic.
3. Strong Shoulders - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Embrace straight lines and structured shoulders as a key trend, creating powerful and confident fashion designs.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate gender-bending elements, boxy silhouettes, and strong shoulders into contemporary fashion collections to attract forward-thinking consumers.
2. Retail - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Curate and market gender-neutral fashion collections featuring boxy silhouettes and strong shoulders to cater to diverse customer preferences and break away from traditional gender norms.
3. Fashion Photography - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Experiment with unconventional angles and lighting techniques to capture the essence of gender-bending fashion, boxy silhouettes, and strong shouldered garments in visually striking ways.