Maison Margiela and Gentle Monster Are Deconstructing Eyewear
In their fourth collaboration, focusing on the experimental design language the brands are known for.
Maison Margiela and Gentle Monster are back for round four, and this time, they’re giving eyewear a deconstructed makeover. The latest collaboration reimagines familiar silhouettes through distorted proportions, unconventional finishes and the experimental design language that both brands are known for.
Centered around the concept of “Deconstruction,” the collection comprises 68 styles, including 43 sunglasses and 25 optical frames. Oversized designs play with exaggeration, while other styles appear crushed, reshaped or wrapped tightly in leather for a second-skin effect. Narrow, upswept frames offer a more streamlined alternative, balancing the collection’s bolder shapes with a subtler approach. Of course, Maison Margiela’s signature four white stitches remain a key detail, appearing at the temples across the range. On slimmer styles, the branding takes on a new form, with the stitches seemingly floating over the edges of the frames.
To accompany the launch, filmmaker Alex Prager directed a short campaign film following a protagonist racing across the city to meet someone in just 10 minutes. As she navigates an ever-changing world, a cast of characters introduces the collection’s varied silhouettes.
The collaboration will also be celebrated with pop-up spaces in eight cities worldwide, each translating the collection’s unfinished aesthetic into physical form. In Seoul, choreographer Damien Jalet and artist Ian McMahon will stage an exclusive performance exploring deconstruction through movement, light and space.
The collection launches on October 29 via the Gentle Monster and Maison Margiela websites, so mark your calendars.
In other news, here are all the highlights from this year’s Art Basel in Paris.
