Marc Jacobs as a pop icon beyond fashion

The talent, irreverence and creative chaos of a leading figure.

With the release of the trailer for “MARC BY SOFIA”, the documentary directed by Sofia Coppola in which she pays tribute to her close friend and collaborator, the world is preparing to discover more than just the career of one of the most iconic names in the fashion industry. This production is not presented as a conventional retrospective, but rather as an intimate immersion into the universe of Marc Jacobs: an irreverent, curious and unpredictable creator.

The project premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, marking the director’s debut in feature-length documentary filmmaking and offering an in-depth and personal portrait of a friendship that has been developing for more than 30 years.

Jacobs, who founded his eponymous brand in 1984 after training at the prestigious Parsons School, revolutionised fashion thanks to his unmistakable talent and personality, becoming one of the youngest designers to win industry awards. From reinventing grunge in the 1990s at Perry Ellis to heading Louis Vuitton for more than a decade, he has always excelled at combining luxury, pop culture and humour, challenging any established norms.

But what is most relevant about “MARC BY SOFIA”, apart from its legacy on the catwalks, is everything that lies behind each creative process, especially that of its Spring 2024 collection. Together, they intertwine key moments in his career with everyday scenes, cinematic references and fragments that show Marc without filters. This is also evident on his social media, where he fearlessly shows off his obsession with labubus, nail art, his miniature collections, his passion for reading and his most extravagant looks.

The documentary also addresses his most challenging years: pressure from the industry, his personal struggles, and his subsequent journey to sobriety. Jacobs has spoken openly about addiction, insecurity, and anxiety, which is unusual in an industry obsessed with perfection. Because if this audiovisual piece makes one thing clear, it is that he understands fashion as ritual, therapy, spectacle, and self-expression.

Coppola captures quiet moments in his studio, seemingly chaotic decisions that result in impossible silhouettes, and that constant tension between fragility and excess that defines his work.

‘MARC BY SOFIA’ will premiere on 27 March.