Reclaiming Glamour

A collaboration between Miu Miu and Oscar-winning designer Catherine Martin breathes new soul into the old, fusing vintage elegance with contemporary irreverence.

There is beauty in what has been worn, loved, and lived in—an emotional patina that no new garment can replicate. In its latest chapter of conscious creativity, Miu Miu Upcycled by Catherine Martin transforms the past into present-day poetry. It is a collection defined not only by silhouettes and stitches, but by stories—personal, cinematic, and profound.

Created in collaboration with legendary costume and set designer Catherine Martin, the collection blurs the lines between function and fantasy. Known for her Oscar-winning work on The Great Gatsby and Elvis, Martin brings her signature flair for the theatrical and the intimate, reimagining Miu Miu’s codes through a lens of vintage sensuality and imaginative contradiction.

This is not simply upcycling—it is alchemy. Garments sourced from vintage specialists around the world are deconstructed and lovingly rebuilt by hand, each stitch a dialogue between memory and modernity. Masculine structures soften into feminine silhouettes, formal elements collide with lingerie, and the boundary between what was and what could be vanishes entirely.

The mood is nostalgic yet experimental, with clear nods to the spontaneous elegance captured by Jacques Henri Lartigue in his photographs of the 1920s. Three distinct themes emerge, each imbued with its own spirit:

• “Marinier” draws from maritime heritage, rendered in the quintessential palette of navy, white, and red. Patchworked denim and striped knits are softened by lace-trimmed jerseys and sailor collars, evoking the carefree chic of seaside youth.

• “Evening” reinterprets 1920s and ‘30s lingerie as outerwear—bias-cut antique lace dresses layered over tees, vintage suiting softened with custom ribbon crests, and rowing blazers transformed into effortless glamour.

• “Foulard” is perhaps the most whimsical: one-of-a-kind halternecks and skirts fashioned from vintage silk scarves, paired with Miu Miu’s signature prints, conjure a Riviera dreamscape drenched in sun and story.

Each piece carries a Miu Miu Upcycled label and a tag of provenance, underscoring a deep respect for the garment’s origins—and its future wearer’s journey.

 

Launched in 2020, Miu Miu Upcycled has become a quiet revolution in circular fashion. Previous editions include reworked 80s dresses, a 2021 partnership with Levi’s®, and capsule collections featuring vintage leather and denim. This latest offering continues that legacy, affirming the Maison’s belief that the past is never passé—it is raw material for something revelatory.

At its heart, Miu Miu Upcycled by Catherine Martin is not only about sustainability. It is about emotional resonance—clothing that carries history, is made by hand, and becomes even more beautiful for it.

Available from June 21st, this limited collection will be sold exclusively at Miu Miu New Bond Street and select boutiques worldwide. Each garment is a rare artefact—and an invitation to dress with meaning.

miumiu.com

Creative: Bordel Studio

Photography: Alma Libera