Isabel Marant has been the laid-back, effortless thread that Parisian fashionistas have pulled on for decades. Launching her eponymous label in 1995 after starting with a knitwear line called Twen, Marant quickly made her mark. Her designs, instantly recognizable for their relaxed but undeniably chic sensibility, seemed to speak to a generation of women who wanted style without sacrificing comfort. With her first boutique opening in 1998 on rue de Charonne, Marant established a stronghold in Paris’ Bastille district that still stands as her brand’s heart today.
Marant’s impact isn’t just about creating covetable pieces; it’s about shaping the way women dress in real life. While other designers might chase fantasies or red carpet moments, Marant has always been about the street. Her approach is rooted in wearability—clothes meant to be lived in, not just looked at. She’s famous for her unpolished, bohemian styles that blend global influences with a distinctly French attitude. Whether it’s her slouchy boots, embroidered blouses, or her enduring use of tactile fabrics, Marant knows how to make clothes that women want to reach for day in and day out.
Her diffusion line, Isabel Marant Étoile, launched in 2000, has made her aesthetic even more accessible, offering the same artsy, casual vibe with a lighter touch. In recent years, Marant has expanded her brand—launching menswear in 2017 and an eyewear collection in 2021, further extending her laid-back ethos to a broader audience. Her commitment to sustainability has also evolved, with the launch of the Isabel Marant Vintage platform in 2021, aimed at giving a second life to past collections, and an endowment fund dedicated to preserving textile craftsmanship.
Marant may not have set out to be a global fashion icon, but her influence has been undeniable. From her H&M collaboration in 2013, which caused a frenzy with shoppers lining up in the early hours, to her nearly 40 stores worldwide, she’s become a beloved name in contemporary fashion. And yet, in the face of all this success, Marant maintains her cool detachment, famously stating, “I never dreamed of being a big designer, I don’t care about being known all over the world.” It’s that authenticity—that pure love of designing for the here and now—that has kept her at the forefront of the fashion conversation for nearly three decades.
