The democratization of fashion has been the most disruptive force to the fashion industry as of late. And of course, Maison Margiela is one of the newest participants in this ongoing phenomenon. Set in an unprecedented move that redefines how a fashion house interacts with the public, and more importantly, its own legacy, Maison Margiela unveils Maison Margiela/folders — a multifaceted project that is a blend of runway spectacle, museum-style exhibitions and radical levels of transparency to their storied archives.

Set to unfold across China this April, Maison Margiela/folders has been accessible to the public since February 10th, but officially kicks off with the house’s FW26 runway show set in Shanghai this April, a significant departure from the regular Paris Fashion Week itinerary and a strategic nod to the region’s growing economical and cultural influence.

Instead of just a runway presentation, the house is using this moment as the springboard for a series of four thematic exhibitions in cities across China, with each one dedicated to a house code that has shaped the creative identity that we know of today.

The exhibition opens in Shanghai with Artisanal: Creative Laboratory from April 2nd to 6th, an immersive survey of the house’s haute couture line (Artisanal) that features nearly fifty archival pieces spanning from 1989 to 2025, many of which have rarely been seen outside of atelier walls nor exhibitions beyond the Western hemisphere. Next, Beijing hosts Anonymity: Our History of Masks from April 7th to 12th, which dabbles and focuses on Maison Margiela’s longstanding obsession with concealment, identity, and what is in relation to the body.

Then, Tabi: Collectors, exhibited in Chengdu from April 9th to 13th celebrates the global cult status of the brand’s iconic split toe shoe. The final exhibition lands itself in Shenzhen with Bianchetto: Atelier Experience from April 11th to 12th, dedicated to the Maison’s signature white overpaint technique.

While the physical activations of Maison Margiela/folders have generated buzz for their scale and ambition, the digital aspect of the project is perhaps the most disruptive of all. Institutional transparency is rarely seen in luxury fashion. Everything is gatekept, sealed, and made to be alluring to the consumer. But the Maison isn’t afraid to drop a public Dropbox link granting the world free access to working documents, mood boards, timelines and behind-the-scenes images that are usually meant for internal circulation. “Fashion is the new pop,” as Raf Simons would say. This is another step into catapulting the house into holding onto an immortal legacy.

Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our February 2026 issue.