The Maison Margiela Artisanal 2024 show by John Galliano, one of the most acclaimed fashion events in recent history, is also becoming one of the most well-documented.
On the heels of a gripping documentary that premiered on Sept. 30 during Paris Fashion — it delved into Galliano’s multilayered creative process and technical wizardry, spiced with horror-movie segments — comes a limited-edition book lensed by Paolo Roversi.
The 89-page tome, art directed by Galliano, comes from London-based biannual culture magazine Luncheon. It is being released exclusively on Thursday at Dover Street Market Paris in tandem with Luncheon’s Issue 18, and concurrent with the opening of the Paris Photo fair at Grand Palais, where some of the new Roversi images are to be showcased.
In the book, the Italian photographer focused his cameras — softly — on actresses Monica Bellucci and Gwendoline Christie, who famously closed the Artisanal 2024 show last January in a kinky fit-and-flare latex dress and porcelain-like makeup.
Roversi also captured business figure and socialite Natasha Poonawalla alongside other “models and muses” treasured by Galliano.
“Working beside John to create this story together was an incredible experience, in the house of Margiela, the kingdom of imagination, of creativity and poetry,” Roversi said.
The book comes with two cover options: one featuring Tish Weinstock and an artwork by Kyle Crooks and the other a painting made especially for the project by Cary Kwok. According to Maison Margiela, the artwork is based on a still life of an imaginary brasserie table that might have been photographed by Brassaï, a key inspiration for Galliano’s acclaimed fashion show.
Rounding out the limited-edition book — which will roll out worldwide from Nov. 14 — is an interview between Roversi and Galliano, which will be reprised as a live, invitation-only talk at Dover Street Market Paris later this month.
The limited-edition book is priced at 19 euros, while the latest Luncheon issue, which is edited by Frances Armstrong Jones, goes for 28 euros.
Maison Margiela also mounted the collection in Paris last March as a special “re-see” opportunity and as an installation at the Maison Margiela Ebisu boutique in Tokyo since Saturday. Rumor has it additional screenings of “Nighthawk” are on the horizon.
The cover of Luncheon.