Maison Martin Margiela Couture Fall 2012

Maison Martin Margiela’s “artisanal”-themed Fall 2012 Couture collection combined found materials in exquisite handcrafted pieces that made perhaps the most avant-garde statement in Paris this week. The 15-piece collection included such items as an overcoat made from a windsurf sail, a jacket composed of baseball mitts, and a sleeveless jacket that used a crystal doorknob found in New York City as its fastener. Raf Simons, who started the week with his debut Couture collection for Dior, was seated in the front row at the show, leading many in the audience to believe that Margiela himself would make an appearance (the two are said to be good friends). But Margiela never showed his face . . . nor did the models who walked the runway, with their heads obscured by crystal-studded masks. The high-concept design in this collection stayed — literally — close to head and heart. Below the waist, most of the models wore pants cut from raw cotton or simple lace.