Maison Margiela
OTB Group · France
Maison Margiela is a Paris fashion house founded in 1988 by Belgian designer Martin Margiela and Jenny Meirens, known for deconstruction, anonymity and the Tabi boot. It has been owned by Renzo Rosso's OTB Group since 2002. Glenn Martens has been creative director since January 2025, succeeding John Galliano.
| Founded | 1988, Paris |
|---|---|
| Founders | Martin Margiela and Jenny Meirens |
| Owner | OTB Group (since 2002) |
| Creative director | Glenn Martens (since 2025) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Lines | Artisanal, ready-to-wear, MM6 |
| Website | maisonmargiela.com |
What is Maison Margiela?
Maison Margiela is a Parisian couture and ready-to-wear house built on nonconformity, deconstruction and a deliberate rejection of the cult of personality. Its codes include the blank white label held by four white stitches, a numerical coding system for product categories and brush-stroked white paint. It belongs to the Italian group OTB.
History
Martin Margiela and Jenny Meirens founded the house in Paris in 1988 and showed the first womenswear collection for spring 1989. The split-toe Tabi boot appeared in that first show. The MM6 line launched in 1997 and menswear in 1998. OTB acquired the company in 2002, and since December 2004 the house has been based in a former convent in Paris's 11th arrondissement.
Margiela left in 2009, after which an anonymous design team led the house until John Galliano became creative director in October 2014. The name was shortened from Maison Martin Margiela to Maison Margiela in 2015. Galliano left in December 2024, and Glenn Martens, who also leads Diesel, took over in January 2025.
Products and positioning
- Artisanal, the haute couture collections; the house has held the Haute Couture appellation since 2012
- Women's and men's ready-to-wear
- Bags, shoes, small leather goods and fine jewellery
- Replica and other fragrances, first launched with L'Oréal in 2009
- MM6, the contemporary line
Business model and distribution
OTB describes a strong online retail presence alongside a worldwide boutique network and placement in leading department and multi-brand stores across Europe, the United States and Asia. In February 2025 the house opened its first concession in Mexico at Palacio de Hierro in Mexico City.
Why it matters
Maison Margiela is one of the most influential conceptual houses of the past four decades, and its fragrance and contemporary lines show how an avant-garde brand can build commercial scale. The pairing of Margiela and Diesel under one creative director makes it central to OTB's strategy.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Maison Margiela?
Maison Margiela has been owned by OTB Group, the Italian group founded by Diesel's Renzo Rosso, since 2002. OTB also owns Diesel, Marni and Jil Sander.
Who is the creative director of Maison Margiela?
Belgian designer Glenn Martens has been creative director since January 2025, succeeding John Galliano. He also continues as creative director of Diesel.