Martin Margiela has opened part of his personal archive for sale in collaboration with Maurice Auction and Kerry Taylor Auctions. The historic auction presented more than 200 lots spanning the designer’s career from 1984 to 2008, including photographs, drawings, objects and previously unseen works.

“After many years of moving archival material from place to place and subsequent loans for exhibitions, I felt it was time to let go of a part of my fashion memorabilia,” says Margiela. “After a long questioning, it was the idea of making happy several collectors and institutions that made me finally decide to send them into the world.”

The sale also includes the Hermès wardrobe of Margiela’s late mother, Léa Bouchet. Comprising garments, bags, accessories and shoes from his tenure at Hermès between 1997 and 2003, the collection offers a personal insight into this period of the designer’s career.

Curated by longtime friend Bob Verhelst, the accompanying exhibition presents many of the objects in an environment inspired by an early twentieth-century workshop. Most of the works on display had never previously been exhibited.

As announced by Margiela, a portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to an association dedicated to the fight against AIDS.