Martine Rose celebrated her 14th birthday at the Strawberry Sundae nightclub in London. Growing up watching her older sister get dressed in Jean Paul Gaultier (and occasionally even “borrowing” outfits for her own outings), Martine found inspiration in the dance music and fashion of the London club scene. These experiences, combined with the UK’s prominent football culture, inspired her eponymous label, which she started in 2007.
Chioma recently hopped on Zoom to chat with Martine about her career, as well as the raucous London nights they both experienced. (Chioma was only 16 when she first went out.) The two friends also reminisced about attending last year’s British Fashion Awards, where Martine won British menswear designer of the year—an honor that took her completely by surprise.
In 2016, Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna, asked Martine to work with him on the brand’s first menswear collection. It was a challenging moment: Martine had just had her first child, Valentine; she was facing eviction from her home; and the feeling of imposter syndrome was intense. However, her work with Balenciaga was a success, and helped Martine’s career reach new heights.
Chioma and Martine went on to discuss some of the latter’s other iconic collaborations—including the Nike Shox mules that everyone in the Vogue offices love, and her work on Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem’s concert merch. While Martine isn’t someone who normally fawns over artists, she is definitely a Kendrick fangirl.