When the eccentric creativity of Belgian designer Glenn Martens meets the global reach of H&M, the result is a fashion moment that is more than just a collection – it is a celebration of design, freedom and what we in fashion call a “twist for a reason”. The H&M × Glenn Martens collaboration is an explosion of reimagined classics, experimental silhouettes and playful fashion that takes everyday style and puts it under the spotlight of boldness.
This is no longer just “high street meets high fashion”. It’s a redefinition of what affordable fashion can be when taken over by an aesthetically untamed perfectionist who loves archives, adores deconstruction and masters the technique of turning the familiar into the unexpected. Get ready for a collection that will not only look good on you, but will also push you out of your fashion comfort zone – in the best possible way.
The New Classic: Deconstruction as Aesthetics
Martens' collection for H&M is based on a thorough research approach and brilliant reinterpretation of everyday wardrobe staples. T-shirts, plaid shirts, bomber jackets and denim - iconic pieces that H&M customers have loved for decades - have undergone a transformation that goes beyond cut or color, but goes deeper, into the very essence of the garment as an object. The result is modular pieces with stretchable volumes, unpredictable details and the ability to adjust the silhouette.
Usage trompe l'oeil techniques (optical illusions), visual contrasts and textures that raise doubts about whether we are looking at a print or a stitch are typical of Martens. Dresses with sculptural shapes that can be transformed with the help of embedded wire structures or foil surfaces allow for personal styling in real time – clothes that are not only worn, but created with.
Fluidity, form and function
Martens resolutely blurs the lines between women and men: the collection is thoughtfully unisex, but never generic. The cuts are sharp, the layering complex, and each piece carries within itself the possibility of transformation – from functional to extravagant, from minimalist to conceptual. The choice of fabrics emphasizes contrasts: robust denim meets soft viscose, technical materials meet nostalgic knitwear.
The color palette maintains a balance between subdued neutrals – grays, beige, dark blue – and bold accents in blood red, bright green and metallic finishes. The collection is structured, but within that structure, it allows for personal interpretation. Martens didn’t design a wardrobe for a specific person – he designed a platform for an identity that could change.
Where the archive meets the future
Many pieces in the collection bear subtle references to Martens' work for Y/Project, but in a more accessible, wearable form. It is a design that does not trivialize the author's aesthetic, but adapts it to a wider audience without compromising on conceptual depth. Recognizable elements such as asymmetrical shirts, high boots with unexpected necklines or hybrid jackets that cross several clothing categories testify to a vision that does not submit to trends, but creates them.
H&M × Glenn Marten collections is, in short, a manifesto of contemporary fashion: an experiment that works; art that is wearable; and functionality that is not afraid to be conceptual. And if you've been looking for an excuse to finally break out of the predictable jeans and white t-shirt combo – this is your chance.
