Martine Rose established her eponymous label in London in 2007. It has since evolved from a tightly edited shirting collection to an internationally renowned and critically acclaimed brand. Her innate authenticity and commitment to modernity have helped to create collections that retain their underground cult credentials while achieving global success. In addition Martine has become one of the most in demand consultants and collaborators in fashion - and for many years now has consistently influenced the direction of contemporary menswear.
Martine Rose is inspired by her Jamaican-British heritage and her deep interest and personal involvement in the music and high / low melting-pot cultures of London. Family and community are at the heart of the company - famously her shows have been held in spaces such as the covered markets of Tottenham, a neighbourhood cul- de-sac in Camden and Torriano primary school. Martine Rose's unique aesthetic is informed by an investigation of proportion and silhouette, surprising textures and fabrications and fluent referencing of subcultural contexts. There is always a tension between attraction and resistance to the accepted codes of menswear. Her exploration of masculinity, the sexual edge of the collections and sensitivity to character and mood define her work.
In 2019, Martine Rose participated in the exhibition Get Up, Stand Up Now - a major celebration of 50 years of Black British creativity at Somerset House in London. That year she was also nominated for the BFC’s Menswear Designer of Year and the Urban Lux Award. Martine Rose was nominated for the BFC's British Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2018 and 2017 when she was in addition shortlisted for the LVMH prize and nominated for the ANDAM award for emerging designers.