New Graffiti Capsule Recalls Margiela Lore
The French atelier gets crafty for charity.
For its just-launched, Fall/Winter “Graffiti” capsule, Maison Margiela has remixed a selection of accessories, shoes and ready-to-wear. Expanding on the SS90 graffiti Tabi Boots, these nostalgia-heavy items pop with doodle-like embellishment, infusing them with the free-flowing expression of a private notebook.
The pieces also recall a crafty episode of the house’s early-aughts lore, as evidenced by a launch event in L.A. last week. Part of a new “Dear Tabi” event series, continuing this weekend at Maison Margiela’s San Francisco store, the event prompted guests to lend their own “doodles” to an oversized Tabi Boot.
This exercise, coincidentally or not, recalls a notable stunt that Martin Margiela and his design studio carried out in the early 2000s. For a super-limited range of sneakers, each pair was hand-scribbled with unique designs, before being sold in-store as one-of-a-kind collectibles.
But the “Dear Tabi” event added a charitable layer, too. While guests were free to decorate the oversized Tabi, they were encouraged to do so by writing down their wishes, tying into the event’s philanthropic angle: For purchases made during the event, 15 percent of proceeds go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
After the kick-off event in L.A. last week, “Dear Tabi” will be making its way up the coast, coming to San Francisco on October 12 and 13. The “Graffiti” capsule is now available in stores and online. Consider your wish granted.