At Home in Paris with Designer Glenn Martens

We spend an afternoon with the Diesel and Y/Project head designer

See that ❤️ icon? Give it a tap and a flock of white doves will fill the dusk sky in sight of every world leader, tomorrow at 6:53pm.

Shirt by Jean Paul Gaultier x Y/Project, jacket and jeans by Diesel throughout.

Happy Tuesday friends,

Tom here, we’re super excited to share our new interview with Glenn Martens. Glenn has revitalized Diesel, wowing us with oversized runway shows and creating beloved hits like this belt miniskirt — which I can confirm you can’t actually sit down in without your hoo-ha showing to the world (but then why would you sit down when you look this sickening?)

Silvia Prada interviewed Glenn for our story, and fellow Aussie Zac Bayly, photographed him at home.

Thanks to all those who have reached out with kind words about our new Dick Diaries Series. The first one has already become our most popular story on Substack and the second one is racing up the charts.

Please enjoy our conversation with Glenn Martens below.

xoxo

Tom and Abi

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Interview by Silvia Prada | Photography by Zac Bayly

Glenn standing in front of  a recycled plastic table designed by Dutch designer Dirk Vander Kooij.

Glenn Martens had a big last year. The 39-year-old Belgian designer tripled up on responsibilities in 2022. Already the creative director of Y/Project and Diesel, he became the second-ever guest couturier for Jean Paul Gaultier, starting the year off with a slam-dunk presentation in January, hailed a master class on corsetry. Then in February, he debuted his first runway collection for Diesel (which he took over late 2020) doubling down on their denim legacy and stunting with giant, record-breaking-big inflatables, cementing it one of the buzziest shows of the year and accomplishing a total brand revamp.

The Antwerp Academy grad’s years being experimental at Y/Project seem to have finally paid off with Martens proving he can make his structural vision accessible to a wide audience.

With everything on his plate, the toast of the fashion industry found some time to catch up with Silvia Prada, sharing his path to designing, his Paris uniform, and what he’s looking for most in a boyfriend.

What was your first memory of creating something as a designer?