Maison Margiela has unveiled an unprecedented initiative titled MaisonMargiela/folders, opening up its archive to the public while launching a series of events across China. The multi-layered project begins with the A/W 2026 ready-to-wear show on April 1st, 2026, in Shanghai, followed by exhibitions in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Shenzhen throughout April.
Marking a new chapter for Margiela under creative director Glenn Martens, the initiative offers a fresh and democratic way to experience the house’s heritage, blending runway, exhibition, and digital transparency.
Maison Margiela Archive: opening the Dropbox
At the core of MaisonMargiela/folders is an open-access digital platform: the house’s internal Dropbox, now made public. This evolving archive contains research materials, archival imagery, planning documents, timelines, and behind-the-scenes content tracing each project from conception to execution.
Archival material dates back to the brand’s founding in 1988, with some documents and imagery revealed for the first time. As the project develops, new files will continue to be uploaded, offering unprecedented insight into the maison’s creative process and documentation culture.
Artisanal shows and exhibitions across China
The project launches with the A/W 2026 runway presentation in Shanghai as part of Shanghai Fashion Week. Immediately following the show, the Artisanal show extends into the exhibition Artisanal: Creative Laboratory (April 2nd–6th, Shanghai), showcasing 48 pieces from the house’s Artisanal line dating from 1989 to 2025. The display highlights couture-level experimentation and craftsmanship central to Margiela’s identity.
In Beijing (April 7th–12th), Anonymity: Our History of Masks explores one of the house’s defining codes — the practice of concealing identity — through a retrospective of its iconic masks. In Chengdu (April 9th–13th), Tabi: Collector’s celebrates the split-toe shoe through community collections, tracing the cultural evolution of the silhouette. Finally, in Shenzhen (April 11th–12th), Bianchetto: Atelier Experience invites visitors to engage directly with the maison’s signature white-painted technique, even transforming their own garments on site.
Together, the runway, exhibitions, and digital archive form a cohesive exploration of four foundational codes — Artisanal, Anonymity, Tabi, and Bianchetto — reaffirming that the essence of Margiela lies in its ideas, process, and radical transparency.
Registration for the free public exhibitions opens on March 17th, 2026, while the Maison Margiela archive is accessible online now and will continue to evolve in the months ahead.
Few figures have reshaped fashion and art like Martin Margiela. In this intimate dialogue, he discusses ephemerality, reinvention, and his lifelong commitment to privacy.
Courtesy of MAISON MARGIELA
