Long before the Balenciaga label made recent headlines with teddy bears togging harnesses and Kardashians in athletic wear sashaying beneath Hollywood palms, the brand's namesake set the pace for exquisite cuts and craftsmanship in austere Barcelona, Madrid and Paris studios.
While Martin Margiela hung up his fashion gloves in 2008, his influence endures, both as a perennial reference on the runways and as an educational trove for budding students the world over. However,