Sotheby’s Paris is set to unveil a striking chapter of fashion history, showcasing over 1,000 previously unseen Karl Lagerfeld sketches. From 2nd to 8th July 2026, KARL, Karl Lagerfeld’s Estate VI: Inspirations, offers a rare insight into the private world of the designer, showcasing his early drawings and personal items that influenced his creative process.
Designed to be open access, all lots are unreserved, with bidding starting from just one euro. A parallel exhibition in Paris continues until July 7th, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the physical presence of the archive before the final sale.
Spanning decades, the collection includes working studies, fashion concepts, and biting political drawings from the 1970s onwards that were never shown in Lagerfeld’s lifetime. These Karl Lagerfeld sketches reveal the rigorous discipline of a designer who transformed drawing into a means of thinking and rehearsing, capturing ideas at a remarkable speed.
Beyond paper, the auction provides access to his private universe. Fingerless gloves and around 200 iPods reveal his precise systems of order, from runway soundtracks to the curated architecture of his personal space.
This sixth estate sale continues Sotheby’s exploration of Lagerfeld’s legacy, following earlier editions in Paris, Cologne and Monaco. The auction house describes it as one of the final opportunities to access his personal archive.
Courtesy of SOTHEBY’S
