I Wish I Could’ve Bid On Martin Margiela’s Personal Archive

There are fashion auctions, and then there are fashion auctions. If someone had told me Martin Margiela was finally letting go of pieces from his personal archive, I probably would've spent hours scrolling through every lot just to see what made the cut.

The legendary Belgian designer, who spent decades avoiding the spotlight, has auctioned 195 pieces from his own collection, with the sale reaching an incredible €1.39 million. For someone who's always let the clothes speak louder than the designer behind them, it feels like a surprisingly personal moment.

The Pieces Feel Like A Glimpse Into Fashion History

My favorite thing about this auction isn't even the final prices. It's seeing the objects that helped shape one of fashion's most influential careers.

The collection included original sketches, Barbie dolls that Margiela used as miniature mannequins, one of his iconic white work coats, Hermès designs from his years as creative director, and even a prototype of the face masks that famously kept attention away from the models and firmly on the clothes.

The biggest sale of the day was a pair of graffiti-covered Tabi boots from 1991, which sold for €364,000. Honestly, I'm not surprised. If there's one shoe that's become fashion folklore, it's the Tabi.

It Feels Strange Seeing Someone So Private Open The Door A Little

Part of what has always fascinated me about Martin Margiela is how little we actually know about him. He rarely gave interviews, almost never allowed himself to be photographed, and famously skipped the traditional designer bow after his runway shows.

That's why this auction feels bigger than simply selling clothes. Before the sale, Margiela said he felt it was time to part with some of his fashion memories, which makes the whole collection feel less like a business decision and more like closing a chapter.

His Influence Still Feels Everywhere

Even years after stepping away from fashion, Margiela's ideas continue to show up everywhere I look. Deconstructed tailoring, exposed seams, anonymous branding, Tabi shoes, oversized proportions... so many things that feel current today can be traced back to his work.

Seeing collectors from Japan, South Korea, China, and beyond competing for these pieces just proves how lasting that influence really is. Trends come and go, but Martin Margiela built a design language that still feels just as radical today as it did decades ago.