Maison Margiela is a French fashion house that was established in 1988. Its founder, who shares the same name as the brand, was born in 1957 in a small industrial town in Belgium. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and later spent some time in Milan as a freelance artist, immersing himself in Italian bohemian culture. In 1984, he moved to Paris and began working as an assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier, who spoke highly of him and predicted a promising future.
A significant turning point occurred in 1982 when Margiela met Jenny Meirens, the owner of a fashion boutique in Brussels who supported young designers. Meirens was impressed by Margiela's work, and together they established "Maison Martin Margiela".
The debut collection, released in 1989, showcased lightweight transparent fabrics adorned with tattoo-like prints, jackets made from evening dresses, and short dresses made from aprons. The garments featured unfinished edges and visible threads, creating a wild and experimental aesthetic. Critics referred to Martin as a "destroyer of clothing", but no one could ignore the unconventional silhouettes that captivated the public.
It is worth mentioning that Martin, the guru and creator of the brand, has not been seen in public for the past two decades. He does not attend parties, avoids being photographed, and does not make appearances at the end of runway shows. However, he did emerge publicly at that first show. Nonetheless, he later declared that his clothes would not bear brand labels, but rather, they would be distinguished by four white stitches. According to Martin, people buy the items themselves, not just a name.
In the same year, 1989, the head of Maison Margiela organized a real performance in the suburbs of Paris. Models were prepared in a corner, and simple equipment and ripped mixes were used for the sound. Children occasionally appeared on the improvised runway, cradling the models in their arms. Even the invitations were designed by students from a nearby school.
By 1990, the brand had established its own office in the heart of Paris, featuring a predominantly white color scheme. The office exuded exclusivity and trendiness with its snow-white interiors and white-painted furniture.
Each subsequent show became a sensation, presented as a part of a larger performance. Invitations were sent in the form of coffee cups, scraps of paper, telegrams, and a map of Paris. Martin himself made his final public appearance at the 1994 show. Since then, he has become inaccessible to the press. Maison Margiela does not disclose its address, phone number, or fax, and the models' faces are concealed behind masks. This peculiar situation only intensifies the intrigue surrounding the brand. Each collection is assigned a serial number, making it easy to identify when a particular item was introduced. The 10th collection introduced the first men's line, the 13th featured books and interior items, and collection 0 showcased exclusive handmade runway outfits. The philosophy of Maison Margiela is characterized by avant-garde concepts taken to the extreme, while also possessing a mysterious allure. Here, it is the garments that speak, not names and faces.
Today, Maison Margiela offers the following products for purchase:
Women's Maison Margiela branded items can be purchased in Europe through the official website of the Symbol online store. We exclusively offer authentic pieces from the finest global collections, with quick delivery to all cities in the country.
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