Martin Margiela (born 9 April 1957) is a Belgian fashion designer, artist, and founder of French luxury fashion house Maison Margiela. Throughout his career, Margiela has maintained a low profile, refusing to grant face-to-face interviews or be photographed. Since leaving fashion in 2009, he has emerged as an artist, exploring the themes that made him an iconic figure in fashion. He is considered to be one of the most influential fashion designers in recent history for his iconic deconstructed, upcycled aesthetic and oversized silhouette. Early life and education Martin Margiela was born on 9 April 1957 in the city of Genk in Limburg, Belgium. He became interested in fashion as a child after watching a TV show featuring influential 1960s designers André Courrèges and Paco Rabanne. As a teenager, he began putting second-hand clothes from flea markets together to create cheap but stylish looks. His taste for pre-worn clothes would later influence his work as a full-fledged designer at major fashion houses. He befriended Inge Grognard who shared his interest in fashion and would later become the make-up artist for all of his shows. He went on to study fashion at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp) and graduated in 1979, a year before the avant-garde fashion collective the Antwerp Six. Fashion career Early career After graduation, Margiela worked as a freelance designer for five years. In 1984, he moved to Paris to work as a design assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier until 1987. Maison Margiela Margiela founded his eponymous label, Maison Martin Margiela, in 1988 with his business partner Jenny Meirens. Meirens, the owner of a designer clothing boutique in Brussels, described Margiela as "the most talented young designer" she had ever seen. Margiela presented the Spring/Summer 1990 collection in the first show for his eponymous label in the fall of 1989 on a derelict playground in a North African neighborhood on the outskirts of Paris. It was an unusual show with an uneven runway and intentionally stumbling models, which created a public spectacle that shocked the industry. As opposed to the popular themes of extravagance, bold colors, and wide shoulders at the time, his collection included ripped sleeves, frayed hems, and clumpy shoes. To show respect for the community, local kids were also asked to hand draw invitations in art classes in school and were seated in the front row during the show. Maison Martin Margiela's ultra-discreet