Lagerfeld and Margiela's fashion 'secrets' go under the hammer in Paris

Paris is hosting two significant auctions during its Haute Couture week, offering fashion enthusiasts a rare glimpse into the creative worlds of Karl Lagerfeld and Martin Margiela. The events coincide with the start of the French capital's prestigious fashion calendar, drawing attention from collectors and industry insiders.

The first auction, organized by Sotheby's, is dedicated to the late Karl Lagerfeld, the iconic designer and photographer. Titled 'Karl, Karl Lagerfeld’s Estate VI Inspirations,' the sale features over a thousand unpublished sketches and working documents from his personal archives. These pieces aim to reveal Lagerfeld's unique working methods and the diverse sources that fueled his celebrated designs, showcasing his passion for collecting and archiving alongside his creative output.

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Lagerfeld enjoyed cataloging, archiving and accumulating as much as creating.

Following Lagerfeld's sale, a separate auction will focus on the enigmatic Martin Margiela. This event, scheduled for Thursday, will offer approximately two hundred lots comprising unpublished garments and personal archives from the designer's influential career, particularly from the mid-1980s onwards. Margiela, known for his discreet public persona, also designed for other prestigious houses, including Hermès from 1997 to 2003.

Both auctions are generating considerable media buzz and are expected to be highly successful. The Margiela lots can be viewed at Quartier Général in Paris until Wednesday, with the exhibition scenography curated by his compatriot and collaborator Bob Verhelst. The sales are a joint effort by auction houses Maurice Auction and Kerry Taylor Auctions, promising a significant dispersal of unique fashion artifacts.

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Organizing this exhibition means immersing myself again in a world that is deeply familiar to me.