With budgets tight and companies feeling the sting of recession, it is not often that you can expect hidden extras, let alone DIY tips in a fashion magazine these days. A brand’s sense of identity, their signature cuts, silhouettes and logos are their equity and play such a vital role in establishing them in the global fashion sphere.

So why unveil the secrets? Why diffuse this essence? With the fear of seeming too profound, ask Maison Martin Margiela. This is exactly what they did in A#1, offering readers the chance to make their own Margiela-inspired garment. In a simplified version of the techniques of the Margiela Artisanal team, this sixteen step diagram shows you how to transform eight pairs of white socks into a sweater – cutting and stitching the footwear into a ribbed, stretch cotton jumper with the sock ‘heels’ creating unusual details on elbows and shoulders.

Modelled on the Stockman mannequin that is so ubiquitously Margiela, this entire idea resonates well with the deconstructive notions of the house, and the subversion of any commercial goals – by offering a taste of their world, for the price of a few pairs of socks.

If you can’t read the fine print here to make your own piece, click here to see it in the digital version of A#1.

Happy cutting and sewing.

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