Fashion legend Martin Margiela reveals hidden treasures

PARIS: After decades of staying away from the spotlight, legendary Belgian designer Martin Margiela is finally revealing a glimpse of his hidden world through a rare auction of his personal archives in Paris.

The collection, personally curated by the 69-year-old fashion icon, includes sketches, his signature white work coat, and personal objects that reflect the creative mind behind one of fashion’s most influential brands.

Known for avoiding photographs, interviews, and public appearances, Margiela has remained one of the most mysterious figures in the fashion industry.

The auction offers collectors a rare opportunity to own pieces connected to his creative journey, although the designer himself remains as private as ever.

“This sale is a creative act and also a manifestation of his concept, his philosophy,” auctioneer Salome Pirson from Maurice Auction told AFP.

She said the collection allows people to explore Margiela’s inner world while the designer continues to remain “the most conspicuously absent” figure from his own story.

More than 3,000 people have already visited the collection ahead of the auction, which features some of Margiela’s most unusual and personal creations.

The items include a prototype of the face masks worn by his models, champagne corks saved from celebrations with early clients, Barbie dolls used as mannequins, and a purple velvet AIDS awareness badge.

The badge carries the message: “There is more action to be taken than to wear this badge but it is a good start.”

Margiela’s decision to sell his personal archives is not only about clearing storage but also about preserving his contribution to fashion history.

Auctioneer Pirson said the sale allows Margiela to personally oversee how his work is passed on to collectors, museums, and institutions.

“He is 69 years old, he has no heirs, and in one way, by organising this sale, he is arranging his own legacy,” she said.

Collectors from Japan, where Margiela has a strong fan base, are expected to take part in the auction, along with museums and fashion institutions from around the world.

Margiela became famous for challenging traditional fashion rules while choosing a life away from public attention.

He rarely allowed himself to be photographed, avoided media interviews, and rejected the industry tradition of appearing on stage after fashion shows.

Despite his absence from the public eye, his minimalist designs and unconventional approach transformed modern fashion.

He retired from the industry in 2009, leaving behind a lasting influence on designers and fashion lovers worldwide.

The auction will also include pieces created by Margiela during his tenure as creative director of Hermès from 1997 to 2003.

The items, originally gifted to his late mother, are now part of the rare collection being offered to collectors.

The auction marks a rare opportunity to own a piece of history from a designer who changed fashion forever while remaining one of its greatest mysteries.