Over 300 Maison Martin Margiela Archive Pieces to Be Auctioned in Tokyo

Tokyo-based auction house NEW AUCTION will hold a sale dedicated exclusively to Maison Martin Margiela on September 26, a first in Japan. The event, titled "Maison Martin Margiela, 1989–2009: The Private Archive Collection," will take place at the SAI art space in Shibuya, with a public preview from September 18 to 25.

The auction brings together more than 300 pieces from the private collection of a connoisseur who spent nearly twenty years assembling a representative ensemble of Martin Margiela's work. The lots include garments and objects created between the house's founding in 1989 and the designer's departure in 2009, covering iconic series such as Artisanal, Replica, and Doll (Barbie), as well as numerous pieces that marked each season.

Martin Margiela, a major figure in contemporary fashion, is known for his conceptual approach: deconstructing and reconstructing clothes, reusing existing or second-hand garments, making manufacturing processes visible, and rejecting creative individuality. His work questions notions of luxury, authorship, and finished form in fashion. This private collection offers a concrete way to trace the evolution of his thinking over nearly two decades.

The sale comes amid growing market interest in Martin Margiela's work, with several exhibitions recently dedicated to him in Japan, including in Kyoto and Tokyo. Collectors and enthusiasts can view the pieces during the preview at SAI before the auction.

NEW AUCTION, founded in 2022 in Harajuku, is positioning itself as an emerging player in Japan's art and design market. This unprecedented sale could attract the attention of international fashion and design collectors.

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Written by the ADM desk based on 美術手帖. Read the original article for the full story.