Martine Rose Menswear S/S13

Martine Rose talks sculpture and identity to Dazed Digital...

"I worked with a textile/embroidery designer this season. Actually, we teach together at Middlesex University, but it wasn't through that that we started working together weirdly. I was going through some ideas with Max [Pearmain, collection stylist] at the start of the season, and he mentioned that he had found the most beautiful embroidered masks by this textile designer, Scott. As soon as he mentioned the name, I just knew it was the same Scott. Anyway, Max showed me Scott's website, and I was blown away! I contacted him straight away to see if he was interested in working together.

The inspiration this season comes from a Benini sculpture called the rape of proserpina. It's a work of unspeakable beauty, that appears to completely defy the fact that it is in marble

So the masks have become these precious things. They are so beautiful, completely impractical fun things, that complete the whole embroidery story that I have happening this season. At the moment I'm really enjoying playing with the identity of the wearer, like the wigs last season.

I also love having this really artisanal aspect to the collection, this craft that really contracts with the sporty technical side that I have going on.

The inspiration this season comes from a Benini sculpture called the rape of proserpina. It's a work of unspeakable beauty, that appears to completely defy the fact that it is in marble. I find this really inspiring, using material in a way that is contrary to its nature."

Text by Martine Rose