MaisonMargiela/Folders
Conceived by our team to explore the ideas and values that shape us. Through an exploration of physical and digital archival materials, four house codes are brought into focus across a series of exhibitions and experiences taking place throughout China in April 2026. The project will begin with our Fall–Winter 2026 show in Shanghai. The four selected house codes are: Artisanal, our couture line; Anonymity, the concealment and creativity through our masks; Tabi, our split-toe shoe collected by a global community; and Bianchetto, our white overpaint technique part of our creative language.
Artisanal
Our haute couture collection that refers to garments, accessories, and objects made by hand by our team. Introduced in 1989 and recognised by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in 2012, Artisanal is Line 0 of our numeric coding and is the origin of the Maison’s creative language.
Anonymity
Anonymity is one of our foundational principles. Despite the unmistakable stamp of identity in his work, our founder Martin Margiela preferred an incognito approach to design, with masks emerging from this ethos. First introduced in the debut show of 1988, a fine fabric veil shifted attention from the model to the garment. Reinterpreted through the years, veils, wigs, make-up, mouthpieces and masks have evolved from our core philosophy into a creative language and framework for innovation and experimentation.
Tabi
The Tabi is the house's first shoe design, presented during our first collection in 1988. Inspired by a 15th century Japanese sock design, cut to follow the contour of the foot.
Bianchetto
Bianchetto is our white overpaint technique that leaves visible brush strokes and transforms surface into a blank canvas. The white overpaint is an extension of white as a house code. It is applied to garments, objects and interiors, the paint will naturally crack and fade over time, gradually revealing visible signs of use.
