What’s inside the Maison Margiela archives?

The democratization of fashion has been the most disruptive force for the fashion industry lately. And of course, Maison Margiela is one of the most recent participants in this ongoing phenomenon. Set in an unprecedented movement that redefines how a fashion house interacts with the public and, most importantly, its own legacy, Maison Margiela presents Maison Margiela/folders, a multifaceted project that is a combination of catwalk spectacle, museum-style exhibitions and radical levels of transparency in its historical archives.

Maison Margiela/folders, which will roll out in China this April, has been accessible to the public since February 10, but officially kicks off with the house’s FW26 show in Shanghai this April, a significant departure from the usual Paris Fashion Week itinerary and a strategic nod to the region’s growing economic and cultural influence. Rather than simply a runway presentation, the house is using this moment as a springboard for a series of four themed exhibitions in cities across China, each dedicated to a house code that has shaped the creative identity we know today.

The exhibition opens in Shanghai with Artisanal: Creative Laboratory from April 2 to 6, an immersive tour of the house’s haute couture line (Artisanal) featuring nearly fifty archival pieces spanning from 1989 to 2025, many of which have rarely been seen outside the workshop walls or in exhibitions beyond the Western Hemisphere. Next, Beijing hosts Anonymity: our history of the masks from April 7 to 12, which dabbles and focuses on Maison Margiela’s long-standing obsession with concealment, identity and what there is in relation to the body. So, Tabi: Collectorson display in Chengdu from April 9-13, it celebrates the global cult status of the brand’s iconic split-toe shoe. The final exhibition lands in Shenzhen with Bianchetto: workshop experience From April 11 to 12, dedicated to the House’s characteristic white painting technique.

While Maison Margiela/folders’ physical activations have generated buzz for their scale and ambition, the digital aspect of the project is perhaps the most disruptive of all. Institutional transparency is rarely seen in luxury fashion. Everything is stored, sealed and made to be attractive to the consumer. But the Maison isn’t afraid to post a public Dropbox link that gives the world free access to working documents, mood boards, timelines, and behind-the-scenes images that are usually intended for internal circulation. “Fashion is the new pop”, as Raf Simons would say. This is another step to catapult the house and preserve an immortal legacy.

Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up on our February 2026 issue.