Appointed artistic director of Diesel last October, Glenn Martens officially made his debut as the brand’s creative director, with his collection presented through a short film live-streaming from Milan.
Made in collaboration with the artist and director Frank Lebon, and soundtracked by the British musician Leon Vynehall, the short film lensed four sections of Diesel’s evolved, brave new world as seen through Martens’ creative prism.
Blurring the lines between reality and a dream, the film showcased the protagonist, with red hair, dressed in an outfit that probably summarized the soul of the Diesel brand: a pair of baggy jeans worn with a deconstructed white t-shirt and interwoven belt accent, jumping into different realities. The film begins with her in a home setting, suggesting a late night scene, she then enters a door into another realm, running in heels through the city streets with models in front and behind her. Then comes an elevator ride that becomes a catwalk for an impromptu runway show, representing a kind of tailored take on both Diesel’s heritage and Martens’ aesthetic. And the film concludes in a trippy, alien room that’s bathed in a deep red filter.
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Back to the clothes, the looks were mainly in denim which has always played a fundamental role in Diesel’s heritage. Here, they underwent the manipulation of Glenn Martens who subjected them to distortion, deconstruction and double-layered construction to create the highly recognizable asymmetrical silhouettes signature of the Belgian designer.
This season also sees the introduction of Diesel Library, a sustainable made-to-stay collection component that holds genderless jeans, shirts, tops, skirts, shorts, and more. Diesel Library will act as a fundamental baseline for each seasonal collection, and it will remain permanent. It reflects the company’s new sustainability-forward mantra, providing clothing types and items that may be bought less often – and worn longer. This launch marks a major step in Martens’ evolution of Diesel, opening a new chapter in the history of the Italian brand.