Glenn Martens to Exit Diesel, Remain at Maison Margiela

Glenn Martens is set to leave Diesel following the brand’s Spring 2027 runway show during Milan Fashion Week, marking the end of his six-year tenure as creative director.

The Belgian designer will present his final collection for Diesel on Tuesday at 4 p.m. CET. The brand, part of the OTB Group, said a successor will be announced at a later date.

While Martens is departing Diesel, he will remain within the OTB family as creative director of Maison Margiela, a position he assumed in 2025 following the departure of John Galliano.

Martens joined Diesel as creative director in 2020 and quickly reshaped the brand with his experimental approach to denim, fashion and pop culture. His collections combined Diesel’s rebellious identity with distorted silhouettes, trompe-l’oeil effects, unconventional fabric treatments and a renewed focus on the brand’s Y2K-era aesthetic.

His influence extended beyond the runway. Martens helped bring Diesel back into the global fashion conversation through bold advertising campaigns, unconventional collaborations and accessible, high-energy runway presentations that became a major part of Milan Fashion Week.

His work also helped reconnect Diesel with a younger audience, particularly Gen Z, while his more recent collections introduced longer proportions, tailored silhouettes and a more mature direction.

Martens’ relationship with Diesel began before his official appointment. In 2018, OTB chairman Renzo Rosso selected him for Diesel Red Tag, the brand’s experimental designer collaboration series. Martens had won the prestigious ANDAM Fashion Award the previous year.

Before Diesel, Martens established his reputation at Y/Project, where his experimental constructions and distinctive approach to draping, twisting and fabric manipulation earned him a dedicated following.

Born in Bruges, Belgium, Martens graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp in 2008. Shortly after graduating, he was recruited by Jean Paul Gaultier, joining the house as a junior designer working across its women’s pre-collection and G2 menswear label.

With his final Diesel collection approaching, Martens is closing one chapter of his career while continuing to shape the future of Maison Margiela under the OTB umbrella.

Photos: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD