Glenn Martens
Creative Director, Diesel
A member of Paris’s avant-garde, Martens is spearheading a streetwear revolution in the city with his commercial-yet-conceptual brand.
Glenn Martens is a Belgian fashion designer and the creative director of Diesel. Known for spearheading a “premium-luxury” revolution, he has gained international acclaim for infusing humour and technical deconstruction into conceptual, forward-thinking collections.
Originally from Bruges, Martens studied interior architecture before stumbling upon fashion. After applying to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp to delay entering the professional world, he graduated first in his class. Following his studies, he joined Jean Paul Gaultier as a junior designer. In 2012, he launched an eponymous label that ran for three seasons before he was tapped to lead Y/Project.
Martens had been the first assistant to Y/Project’s founder, Yohan Serfaty. After Serfaty passed away in April 2013, business partner Gilles Elalouf convinced Martens to take the helm as creative director. Over the next 11 years, Martens transformed the Rick Owens-inspired label into a global powerhouse worn by A-listers like Rihanna. However, following the death of Elalouf in June 2024, Martens officially stepped down as Creative Director of Y/Project on 3 September 2024 to focus on his expanding role within Renzo Rosso’s OTB Group.
In October 2020, Martens was appointed creative director of Diesel. He has since orchestrated a massive brand turnaround, repositioning the heritage denim label through high-concept runway spectacles. His Autumn/Winter 2025 and Spring/Summer 2026 presentations in Milan continued his signature of radical inclusivity, often opening shows to thousands of members of the public and students.
Martens’ technical virtuosity was further solidified in January 2022, when he served as the guest designer for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Haute Couture line, a collection hailed by critics as a modern masterpiece. He is a two-time winner of the ANDAM Grand Prix (2017 and 2020). As of February 2026, he continues to lead Diesel’s global creative strategy from Milan and Paris.
Career History
Creative Director
2013 - Present
Founder & Creative Director
2012 - 2013
Junior Designer
VITAL STATISTICS
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Milan Day One: Two Takes on Escapism
On the first day of Milan fashion week, Glenn Martens’ Diesel and Vivetta Ponti’s new project Venerdì Pomeriggio dealt with escapism and abandon in their own ways, reports Angelo Flaccavento.
Milan Day One: Two Takes on Escapism
On the first day of Milan fashion week, Glenn Martens’ Diesel and Vivetta Ponti’s new project Venerdì Pomeriggio dealt with escapism and abandon in their own ways, reports Angelo Flaccavento.
Does Fashion Know What Women Want?
This Paris Fashion Week, the delicate balance between fantasy and function faltered, raising questions about whether designers truly understand the women they dress.
Does Fashion Know What Women Want?
This Paris Fashion Week, the delicate balance between fantasy and function faltered, raising questions about whether designers truly understand the women they dress.
Milan Day One: How to Revamp a Brand
Gucci’s Demna and Diesel’s Glenn Martens — one beginning a brand reinvention, one already knee-deep — both hatched something new on the first day of Milan Fashion Week.
Milan Day One: How to Revamp a Brand
Gucci’s Demna and Diesel’s Glenn Martens — one beginning a brand reinvention, one already knee-deep — both hatched something new on the first day of Milan Fashion Week.
Glenn Martens: ‘Social Media Has Turned Fashion Into the Hunger Games’ | The BoF Podcast
On the eve of his Spring/Summer 2026 shows, the Diesel and Maison Margiela creative director speaks with Imran Amed about finding his voice, transforming an iconic brand from the 1990s for today and why fashion should include everyone.
Glenn Martens: ‘Social Media Has Turned Fashion Into the Hunger Games’ | The BoF Podcast
On the eve of his Spring/Summer 2026 shows, the Diesel and Maison Margiela creative director speaks with Imran Amed about finding his voice, transforming an iconic brand from the 1990s for today and why fashion should include everyone.
The Great Fashion Reset | Can Designer Revamps Save Fashion?
Brands are betting big on creative reboots across the luxury industry including Dior, Chanel, Gucci and more. But sticking the landing on an aesthetic refresh is easier said than done, and a new generation of creative directors face the same systemic challenges that stymied predecessors.
The Great Fashion Reset | Can Designer Revamps Save Fashion?
Brands are betting big on creative reboots across the luxury industry including Dior, Chanel, Gucci and more. But sticking the landing on an aesthetic refresh is easier said than done, and a new generation of creative directors face the same systemic challenges that stymied predecessors.
Glenn Martens Has Come to Save Us
His Artisanal debut at Maison Margiela was a gust of something — not so much fresh air as major food for thought, writes Tim Blanks.
Glenn Martens Has Come to Save Us
His Artisanal debut at Maison Margiela was a gust of something — not so much fresh air as major food for thought, writes Tim Blanks.
This Week: Paris Couture and Trump’s Tariffs
Both sides of fashion’s value equation will be put to the test in the coming days as couture houses flex their creative muscles and consumer prices hang in the balance pending trade deals between the US and major fashion manufacturing hubs.
This Week: Paris Couture and Trump’s Tariffs
Both sides of fashion’s value equation will be put to the test in the coming days as couture houses flex their creative muscles and consumer prices hang in the balance pending trade deals between the US and major fashion manufacturing hubs.
Backstage Pass | Rick Owens' Alien Nation
The designer speaks to BoF’s Imran Amed on the past, present and future of the Roman fur and leather goods house that carries her family name.
Backstage Pass | Rick Owens' Alien Nation
The designer speaks to BoF’s Imran Amed on the past, present and future of the Roman fur and leather goods house that carries her family name.
Why Luxury Is Broken
The sheer number of changes at the top of big brands this week is a sign the industry is still searching for a way out of its current troubles.
Why Luxury Is Broken
The sheer number of changes at the top of big brands this week is a sign the industry is still searching for a way out of its current troubles.
Glenn Martens Takes Creative Reins at Maison Margiela
The Belgian designer, known for his work at Y/Project and Diesel, succeeds John Galliano as creative director of the French luxury house.
Glenn Martens Takes Creative Reins at Maison Margiela
The Belgian designer, known for his work at Y/Project and Diesel, succeeds John Galliano as creative director of the French luxury house.
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The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
