With decades of Martin Margiela's iconic Masion Margiela archives floating around, it's high time somebody decided to make proper use of the historic garments, and that someone is Sotheby’s, who has recently announced it will sell a private collector’s archive of nearly 20 years of Maison Margiela garments in an expansive auction.

The auction in question is set to launch online, and will span two decades from 1989 to 2009. You must hand it to the collector for such dedication to the brand, they obviously saw a lucrative future in Margiela's pieces. The lot — titled “Hors Normes II” — includes almost 200 ready-to-wear and couture garments (go, collector!) with accessories and full runway looks available alongside the extensive RTW pieces.

Some of the covetable and iconic pieces amongst the collection include Martin Margiela‘s Spring Summer 1996 black muslin cardigan and long skirt with sequins, as well as the designer’s famous Fall Winter 1999 duvet coat, which was later re-created in Margiela’s collection for H&M, and even the Fall Winter 1998 plastic-coated dress with its original plastic bag. A complete runway look from Margiela's Fall Winter 2004 collection also takes shape in a full-length dress bearing a print of hair paired with a fur necklace.

The lot itself is especially notable considering it's link to the prolific and elusive designer, Martin Margiela. Spanning almost the entirety of Margiela's career, it is the perfect encapsulation of some of the designers most poignant moments as an off-beat tastemaker. While the designer continues to be relatively invisible to the public eye up to today, he did finally let loose with a documentary in 2020 titled In His Own Words, alongside an upcoming foray into the visual art world this April.

Sotheby’s Martin Margiela “Hors Normes II” auction launches at the Sotheby’s website on March 3 and runs through March 9, see the collection for yourself and tune in if you're game.

Image: Sotheby's