FI EXCLUSIVE: Recent Photos of Martin Margiela

The New York Times recently published this 1997 of Martin Margiela, the genius designer and international man of mystery. Since this photo, Margiela has gone incognito, not showing up at his own runway shows and only remaining in contact with journalist through fax.

We recently discovered this photo of a man speculated to be Martin Margiela. We’ve had this photo for sometime and it wasn’t until now that we can compare it to the confirmed photo to make the assumption that THIS IS IN FACT THE MOST CURRENT PHOTO OF MARTIN MARGIELA.

Taken in 2006 by a photographer attending a party for Martin Margiela in Paris, it might be the only photo we have of Martin Margiela to date.

The similarities between the two men is uncanny. They both share similar noses, facial structure and lips. Their lower ear lobes match and the acne scars on their cheeks and nose line up pretty well. In addition, the man in the picture seems to be wearing a jacket that Mr. Margiela has displayed in his collection in the past. While the eyes and eyebrows aren’t exactly the same, it would only take a pair of contacts and an eyebrow trimming to complete the look.

While the only thing throwing me off are the knuckle tattoos (RR?), I feel this might either be Marty himself, or someone who bears an uncanny resemblance. Weigh in indies? Is this Martin Margiela or just some wicked dopplegangler?

UPDATE: Um, so yeah. I’m an idiot. The dude in the photo is Renzo Rosso from Diesel. Sorry, I sometimes have trouble telling white folk apart.