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Martin Margiela is a designer whose work occupies a unique position in the contemporary fashion world. The consistency of his vision has made him one of the most influential and iconoclastic designers of the last two decades. Margiela graduated from the Antwerp Academy in 1980 and went on to work as an assistant to Jean-Paul Gaultier in Paris in 1984. In 1989 he staged his first show in Paris under his own label, founding the 'Maison Martin Margiela' together with Jenny Meirens. In his collections themes such as the reproduction of materials and the deconstruction of patterns and shapes are often interwoven. He uses both garments from flea markets and new pieces which are taken apart then reassemble to create unique items. Considered very much a ‘fashion designer’s fashion designer’ due to his respect for and fascination with the structure and technique of garment production, his work has often been the subject of exhibitions, most recently ‘Maison Martin Margiela 20’ which originated at MoMu in 2009. Our main focus is to re-discover Martin's menswear artisanal pieces produced in his studio in Paris.