Martine Rose Brings Playful Self-Expression to LEGO®’s Play Pavilion
Martine Rose, the renowned fashion designer, recently led a hands-on workshop at LEGO®’s Play Pavilion this summer. The workshop was a playful exercise in self-expression and design, where participants were invited to reimagine personal wardrobe pieces using LEGO bricks with the help of master builders. In an exclusive interview with Hypebeast, Rose emphasized the importance of community, creativity, and maintaining a sense of play in both her work and inspiration.
The Power of Unrestricted Play: A Look Inside LEGO®’s Play Pavilion
As creatives, we all know the power of unrestricted play. It sparks new ideas, flips perspectives, and brings a sense of raw joy that fuels innovation. And no one embodies that spirit quite like LEGO®. In fact, the brand’s name literally means “play well.” This summer, in celebration of World Play Day, LEGO® teamed up with London’s Serpentine gallery to create the Play Pavilion – an open-access, LEGO-built structure designed by renowned architect Sir Peter Cook, right in the heart of Kensington Gardens.
Martine Rose and Other Heavyweights Collaborate at the PLAY Pavilion
Running from June 11 to August 11, the immersive space hosted a 9-week lineup of free, in-person workshops with some serious heavyweights: Martine Rose, Nike, Iglooghost, and Niko B. The Play Pavilion was an immersive playground for London’s youth, encouraging collaboration, imagination, and community. At Martine Rose’s workshop, attendees were invited to reimagine something from their wardrobe in LEGO bricks, in an act of self-expression – brick by brick. With help from LEGO’s master builders, Martine guided the designs in an intimate session inside the pavilion.
Martine Rose on the Importance of Play in Design
After the workshops wrapped, Hypebeast caught up with Martine to talk about creativity, fun, and why play still matters in design – even at the top of your game. When asked about how she stays inspired, Martine shared that having an element of playfulness is absolutely necessary in order to keep her engaged and inspired. She also emphasized the importance of community in driving everything and how the fashion industry can continue to foster authentic, in-person creative connections.
Bringing Playfulness to the Creative Process
Playfulness is a consistent thread in Martine Rose’s work, and she shared that she has specific rituals and approaches that help her bring a sense of play into her creative process. As the Martine Rose brand has grown, she has maintained this playful attitude and culture, always putting people at the center of everything they do. In the end, it’s people and communities that drive everything, and being authentic to who and what the brand is remains a top priority for Martine Rose.
