Acquired the one-of-a-kind piece from 1991
Valuence Japan Inc. (Tokyo; Mitsutoshi Tomita, representative director) announced that the Company has acquired Graffiti Tabi, a work personally preserved by Martin Margiela. The Company purchased the work for approximately 68 million yen (including all applicable fees and based on the exchange rate at the time of conversion) at the Martin Margiela: Personal Archives auction, jointly organized by Maurice Auctions and Kerry Taylor Auctions in Paris, France, on July 9, 2026.
Graffiti Tabi is a one-of-a-kind work created during the 1991 exhibition The World According to Its Creators at the Palais Galliera in Paris, where visitors were invited to write messages directly on a pair of white Tabi boots.
The piece achieved the highest hammer price of the auction.
Valuence plans to display the work to the public and will announce more information regarding the exhibition venue and other details once finalized.
About Graffiti Tabi
The Graffiti Tabi acquired through this auction was originally exhibited at The World According to Its Creators, held at the Palais Galliera in Paris in 1991.
During the exhibition, visitors were invited to write messages directly on a pair of white Tabi boots, transforming them into a unique collaborative artwork. The piece has since been preserved by Martin Margiela himself.
Why Valuence Japan Acquired This Work
The Valuence Group is committed to creating a more sustainable future as a Circular Design Company by extending the life of valuable goods through reuse and passing these items on to future owners.
Valuence Japan believes that luxury brand goods should be valued not only as products, but also for the history, culture, and creative vision that give rise to those goods.
Martin Margiela is renowned as a designer whose unconventional creations had a profound influence on perceptions of fashion. The Graffiti Tabi offered at this auction is one of the works that exemplifies Martin Margiela’s creative vision and reflects the cultural context of the time the work was created.
Following Valuence Japan’s acquisition of the Original Birkin last year, the company has acquired the Graffiti Tabi to help preserve Martin Margiela’s creative legacy and ensure that the history and culture behind his work are passed on to future generations.
Valuence Holdings Inc.
Comment From Representative Director Shinsuke Sakimoto (Head of the Valuence Group)
Following last year’s acquisition of the Original Birkin, I am delighted that we have now welcomed the Graffiti Tabi, which was personally preserved by Martin Margiela himself, into our collection.
The Valuence Group views luxury brand goods as more than just products. We believe that each piece embodies the history, culture, and creative vision behind these goods and represents a form of value that should be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Going forward, we plan to showcase the Graffiti Tabi through exhibitions and other initiatives, sharing the story behind the piece and its cultural significance with a wider audience while ensuring that the value this piece represents is passed on to future generations.
Future Plans
The Graffiti Tabi will be made available for public viewing.
Valuence Japan will announce further details, including venues and exhibition schedules, once finalized.
