What to know | Maison Margiela’s Tokyo Folders Chapter Connects an Ebisu Store With Its Community

The latest chapter of Maison Margiela’s MaisonMargiela/folders project focuses on Tokyo Ebisu and Maison Margiela Tokyo store. Taking 20 years since the store was relocated as a starting point, the brand records the relationship between the clothing brand and a neighborhood through interviews with local figures, public digital files, limited edition ZINEs and in-store installations; the physical installation is expected to be on display until November 15.

Cover image: Maison Margiela

Why Ebisu? Time extends from one store to the outside

This review is not only about the in-store display, but also about how the store was formed and how the surrounding community established a relationship with the brand. The public content includes interviews with local figures such as Tabi collectors, making the archive not just a list of clothes for a certain season, but also showing the life context in which the clothes were collected, worn and discussed.

"20 years since relocation" refers to the history of a specific store and cannot be directly interpreted to mean that the brand has only existed in Japan for 20 years, or the 20th anniversary of the founding of the entire brand. Only by clearly distinguishing the time points can we understand why we chose to return to Ebisu for this project instead of simply doing another new product display.

Dropbox folder to keep files out of a single exhibition venue

MaisonMargiela/folders is an extension of the Shanghai autumn and winter series released in 2026. It has also previously displayed brand identity in different cities in China and released Dropbox folders containing internal historical images and planning information. This time, the Tokyo chapter continues to provide relevant archives digitally, allowing people who have not been there to access the content.

Public access does not mean that all files can be freely reproduced commercially. For those who are researching the brand, they can first establish clues from the title, date and person, and then return to the physical store to compare; for readers who are planning to visit, they can use the archives as the background to understand the place, rather than just looking for the location to take pictures.

In-store installation, putting artist and workshop in the same place

Maison Margiela Tokyo displays an installation in collaboration with artist Mio Suzuki and France’s Les Manufactures Nationales — Sèvres & Mobilier National, which is on display through November 15. This content is juxtaposed with local interviews and digital data, allowing the project to encompass objects, processes and recording methods at the same time.

When viewing, you can first pay attention to the scale relationship between the installation and the original store: how it occupies space, interacts with the clothing display or walking path, and then go back to understand the background of the cooperation. The store itself is part of the plan, and on-site content should also be read along with the general shopping flow.

ZINE on November 5th is another time node

The limited edition ZINE is expected to be distributed in the Ebisu area and Maison Margiela Tokyo on November 5. This is the paper release date, which is different from the installation’s closing date; the public information does not mean that every visitor can obtain it. The actual quantity, location and arrangement should still be confirmed based on the brand's information on that day.

If you are planning an itinerary for the installation, you can first check store openings and exhibition dates; if you are interested in paper and brand records, you can pay attention to digital files and ZINE respectively. The perspective provided by this project is how the brand can write the history of fashion back to a specific location in the city through a store and people who have been in contact with it for a long time.