Glenn Martens

Fashion designer Glenn Martens explores the intersection of personal identity, creative leadership, and the emotional weight behind his work at Maison Margiela and Diesel. Design functions as a uniform that facilitates neutrality and team cohesion, while the "soul" of clothing—found in rigid, worn-in denim and second-hand pieces—remains central to his aesthetic. Martens credits his professional drive to an insecurity complex, which necessitates bold, confident actions to overcome self-doubt. Following the suicide of his mother, he has transitioned toward a more empathetic leadership style, balancing the massive structural demands of global fashion brands with a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. His career, marked by an accidental entry into the Antwerp Academy and a penchant for dramatic, historical narratives, reflects a constant search for beauty in the unexpected and a dedication to empowering others through design.