By Laura Eckstein Jones By Laura Eckstein Jones | May 22, 2024 | People, Feature, Shop, Celebrity, fashion, Women of Influence Latest, People Feature, Community, Apple News, City Life,
As she celebrates 30 years of her eponymous brand, Isabel Marant emphasizes the importance of always remaining true to her vision.
Isabel Marant is celebrating three decades in business; PHOTO BY ALASDAIR MCLELLAN
Nowadays, Parisian designer Isabel Marant is immediately recognizable as one of the top forces in fashion. With rock-n-roll influences and an androgynous, bohemian bent, Marant’s pieces have an understated, cool look and feel that so many women want to emanate.
Isabel Marant Duerto boots, isabelmarant.com; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Marant’s path to success began with an unexpected catalyst: her brother’s dynamic charisma. “Thanks to my brother, I became who I am,” says the once-shy designer, who was recently in L.A. to mark her brand’s 30-year anniversary with a celebratory dinner party at Chateau Marmont. “I was timid.” Marant eventually found her voice through creative expression. “I had to find my way to be noticed,” she reflects, “and I think it really came by the look, by the attitude, and it really built my personality.”
Silvery volume on the spring/ summer ‘24 runway; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Early experimentation with her father’s clothes laid the foundation for her signature style. “I was playing a lot with my dad’s clothes,” she recalls, “and that’s why I’ve got this androgynous look.” This blend of masculine and feminine elements would become a hallmark of her designs.
An angelic look from spring/summer ‘22; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Despite initially planning to study economics, Marant’s path pivoted in her teens. She and Christophe Lemaire, her boyfriend at the time, started creating clothes inspired by their favorite bands, eventually leading her to pursue fashion studies. “We were in love with music and playing a lot with our looks, imitating the groups we were fond of,” she shares, adding that they made clothes for themselves after school. Before long, friends started asking the couple to make pieces for them. From then on, “I knew what I wanted to do,” she shares, “and I was impatient to throw myself into the world.”
From the outset, Marant’s confidence and drive propelled her forward. “I just went for it,” she shares. “I didn’t need to think about it.” This fearlessness guided her as she launched her brand, driven by a determination to see her vision come to life.
The Jocelyn jumpsuit from spring/summer ‘24; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Reflecting on her three-decade journey, Marant emphasizes the importance of staying authentic amid the industry’s demands. “I have always had a very commercial aspect of the things in my head, but that’s not leading my creation,” she explains. “It’s important to do things with your heart with the deepest of your art. I always have been very true to what I love and wear—it’s very organic.”
Despite the pressures of her work, especially as her brand has grown to encompass 66 stores worldwide, Marant remains grounded in her instincts, knowing when something resonates authentically. “Style is something you have in yourself,” she explains. “It’s not something you learn. It also means knowing yourself well, finding what fits you and what makes you feel comfortable. I think that brings a lot of style, too, when you feel confident.”
Florals for fall/winter ‘21; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Away from work, Marant finds solace in a different type of creativity. “I love doing ceramics because it can be frustrating having such a big company,” she shares. “I cannot achieve things alone like I did when I was younger. So through doing ceramics, I can have this feeling of achieving and creating something from A to Zed with my hands.”
Isabel Marant Oskan Moon studded shoulder bag, isabelmarant.com; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Looking ahead, Marant hopes to continue building her brand while remaining authentic. She also hints at expanding into other categories, including beauty. “If I can keep being successful, being true to myself and continuing what I’ve been setting up,” she says, “I will be very happy.”
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