# Martyn Bal

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{{short description|Dutch fashion designer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox person
|image=
|caption=
|name=Martyn Bal
|education=[Royal College Of Art](/source/Royal_College_of_Art)
|label_name={{hlist|[Dior Homme](/source/Christian_Dior_S.A.)|[Burberry](/source/Burberry)|[Versace](/source/Gianni_Versace)|[Maison Martin Margiela](/source/Martin_Margiela)|[Roberto Cavalli](/source/Roberto_Cavalli)}}
|awards=[Mila Schön](/source/Mila_Sch%C3%B6n) Design and concept award (1999)
}}

'''Martyn Bal''' is a [Dutch](/source/Dutch_people) fashion designer. He has worked with [Hedi Slimane](/source/Hedi_Slimane) at [Dior Homme](/source/Dior_Homme), [Donatella Versace](/source/Donatella_Versace), [Christopher Bailey](/source/Christopher_Bailey_(fashion_designer)) at [Burberry](/source/Burberry) and [Roberto Cavalli](/source/Roberto_Cavalli), and collaborated among many others, with [Moncler](/source/Moncler), [Edward Enninful](/source/Edward_Enninful), [Cutler and Gross](/source/Cutler_and_Gross) and [Marc Quinn](/source/Marc_Quinn).

==Early life and education==
Martyn Bal was born in [The Netherlands](/source/The_Netherlands). Before discovering fashion, Bal briefly studied architecture. Bal was a teen apprentice to [Dirk Bikkembergs](/source/Dirk_Bikkembergs) ([Antwerp six](/source/Antwerp_Six)). Not having had any formal design education, Bal went on to study [fashion design](/source/fashion_design) at the [Royal College Of Art](/source/Royal_College_of_Art) in London. Bal graduated in 2000 with a [Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) degree in menswear.

== Career ==
After graduation in 2000, Bal was immediately hired to assist [Hedi Slimane](/source/Hedi_Slimane) at [Dior Homme](/source/Dior_Homme). He went on to direct the men's design studio at [Burberry](/source/Burberry), working closely with [Christopher Bailey](/source/Christopher_Bailey_(fashion_designer)), and design collections for [Maison Martin Margiela](/source/Martin_Margiela).

In 2009 Bal launched his own line of menswear, featuring [transgender](/source/transgender) model and actor [Andreja Pejić](/source/Andreja_Peji%C4%87)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/fashion/will-the-fashion-world-accept-andreja-pejic-as-a-woman-fashion-week.html | title=A Model's Life, Chapter 2 | work=The New York Times | date=September 5, 2014 | author=Schneier, Matthew}}</ref> and then rising Swedish popstar [Erik Hassle](/source/Erik_Hassle).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.planetnotion.com/2010/08/20/the-duality-of-man-martyn-bal-aw10/ |title=Planet Notion » the Duality of Man: Martyn Bal AW10 |access-date=2015-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608104157/http://www.planetnotion.com/2010/08/20/the-duality-of-man-martyn-bal-aw10/ |archive-date=2017-06-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fluxmagazine.com/index.php/fashion/martyn-bal-the-face-behind-versace/|title=Martyn Bal - The Face Behind The Fashion - Flux Magazine|work=Flux Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2009-12/18/style-news-martyn-bal | title=Why you need to know Martyn Bal | work=GQ | date=December 18, 2009 | author=Millar, Jamie | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001162652/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2009-12/18/style-news-martyn-bal | archivedate=October 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.menstyle.it/cont/moda/moda/1001/2201/martyn-bal.asp | title=Martyn Bal | work=menstyle.it | date=January 28, 2010 | author=Prada, Alan | language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://luxurysociety.com/articles/2011/01/12-must-know-menswear-designers-behind-luxury-labels | title=12 Must-Know Menswear Designers Behind Luxury Labels | work=Luxury Society | date=January 26, 2011 | author=Doran, Sophie}}</ref> During this period Bal also developed an exclusive handcrafted eyewear range named 'Wowzers' <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/13469/1/martyn-bal-x-cutler-and-gross | title=Martyn Bal x Cutler and Gross | work=Dazed | date=May 17, 2012 | author=Kowalinski, Michael}}</ref> with [Cutler and Gross](/source/Cutler_and_Gross).

From 2010 Bal was in charge of the men's design studio at [Versace](/source/Gianni_Versace), reporting directly to [Donatella Versace](/source/Donatella_Versace).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2011-menswear/versace|title=Versace|work=Vogue|date=18 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Men's fashion shows in Milan|url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/ba47da1c-24e2-11e0-895d-00144feab49a.html|newspaper = Financial Times|date = 2011-01-21|access-date = 2015-10-16|issn = 0307-1766|first = Godfrey|last = Deeny}}</ref> Here he collaborated with [Edward Enninful](/source/Edward_Enninful) (currently of [British Vogue](/source/British_Vogue))<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=British Vogue |title=British Vogue |access-date=2023-10-01 |url=http://www.vogue.co.uk}}</ref> and Joe McKenna<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/autumn-winter-2011/mens/versace/catwalk-report|title=Versace|work=Vogue UK|access-date=2015-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001144353/http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/autumn-winter-2011/mens/versace/catwalk-report|archive-date=2015-10-01|url-status=dead}}</ref> on the [styling](/source/Fashion) of the menswear shows.

From February 2013 Martyn Bal was appointed Men's Style and Design Director at [Roberto Cavalli](/source/Roberto_Cavalli). Martyn Bal was reporting directly to [Roberto Cavalli](/source/Roberto_Cavalli) and was in charge of all menswear style and design, including accessories and [licensees](/source/Brand_licensing).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://i-d.co/article/was-that-milan-fashion-week-coming-back-with-a-vengeance/ | title=was that milan fashion week coming back with a vengeance? | work=i-D | date=January 21, 2015 | author=Madsen, Anders Christian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2015-menswear/roberto-cavalli|title=Roberto Cavalli|work=Vogue|date=20 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://i-d.co/article/roberto-cavalli-springsummer-15-menswear/|title=roberto cavalli spring/summer 15 menswear|work=i-D|date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://vimeo.com/85242791|title=Roberto Cavalli - Categories of Being|work=Vimeo}}</ref>

After successfully repositioning the menswear brand, Bal left his position at Roberto Cavalli in June 2015, after Italian private equity firm Clessidra<ref>{{cite web | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cavalli-clessidra-deal-idUKKBN0NL1O420150430 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811212935/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cavalli-clessidra-deal-idUKKBN0NL1O420150430 | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 August 2016 | title=Clessidra buys control of Italian fashion label Cavalli | work=Reuters UK | date=April 30, 2015 | author=Gaia, Massimo | author2=Wendlandt, Astrid}}</ref> acquired a 90% stake of the Roberto Cavalli group. Since then Martyn Bal has continues to work on projects as a senior style and design consultant and most recently collaborated with [New York](/source/New_York_City) based denim and leather brand [BLK DNM](/source/BLK_DNM), originally founded by [Johan Lindeberg](/source/Johan_Lindeberg). Here Bal worked on launching an all [made in Italy](/source/made_in_Italy) premium denim and outerwear capsule for the brand. He also collaborated with renowned contemporary artist [Marc Quinn](/source/Marc_Quinn)

==Style | Celebrity==
Bal's collection are known for its romanticism and its slick precision, tinged with duality and bold attitude.
His designs have been featured on magazine covers and worn by celebrities including [David Bowie](/source/David_Bowie), [Mick Jagger](/source/Mick_Jagger), [Prince](/source/Prince_(musician)), [Duran Duran](/source/Duran_Duran), [Alex Turner](/source/Alex_Turner_(musician)), [Steven Tyler](/source/Steven_Tyler), [Joe Perry](/source/Joe_Perry_(musician)), [Tinie Tempah](/source/Tinie_Tempah), [Nicki Minaj](/source/Nicki_Minaj), [Kanye West](/source/Kanye_West), [Lewis Hamilton](/source/Lewis_Hamilton), [Mr Hudson](/source/Mr_Hudson), [The Kooks](/source/The_Kooks), [Nicholas Hoult](/source/Nicholas_Hoult), [Lu Yi](/source/Lu_Yi_(actor)), [Rupert Penry-Jones](/source/Rupert_Penry-Jones),  [Fabio Novembre](/source/Fabio_Novembre), among others.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control (arts)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bal, Martyn}}
Category:Living people
Category:Dutch fashion designers
Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Art
Category:Dutch tailors
Category:21st-century tailors
Category:People from Schiedam
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Martyn Bal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyn_Bal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyn_Bal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.