The Issey Miyake Spring-Summer 2026 collection revealed an arresting vision from Satoshi Kondo. He explored what might happen if clothes could breathe, think, and feel. His starting point was to imagine clothing as alive, as if each piece possessed its own consciousness and desires. This poetic concept gave rise to creations that seemed to transcend fabric, touching on the idea of coexistence between body and garment.
Kondo spoke of a “new relationship between the wearer and what’s worn.” This connection defined the show, presenting fashion as interactive rather than passive. The garments appeared to react to the body rather than merely cover it, expressing curiosity, independence, and playfulness. His goal was “to offer a new sense of beauty,” an invitation to reconsider how people perceive their daily attire.
Freedom, a value deeply rooted in Issey Miyake’s legacy, was also at the heart of the presentation. One sequence drew inspiration from plants sprouting through cracks in the pavement, translating their natural persistence into clothing. Tubular knits curved and expanded like growing organisms, their rounded forms recalling the unstoppable energy of life itself. The concept, called Being Garments, Being Sentient, suggested a quiet evolution – fashion that behaves as if it were alive, adapting to the wearer’s instincts.
The construction of the pieces reflected this same curiosity. Shoulders protruded into sculptural domes, and body-hugging nylon forms revealed objects pressed against the skin. Some garments twisted and transformed as if they were midway between species, turning fashion into an experimental space between imagination and materiality. These shapes challenged conventional ideas of beauty and comfort yet remained unmistakably wearable.
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At times, the clothes seemed to act independently, resisting their human hosts. Shirts and polo shirts lifted slightly at the shoulders, hinting at a desire to detach. Pants opened at the seams, suggesting that the garments had wills of their own. There was a clear sense of humor, but it was never theatrical. It was a controlled form of creativity that reflected Kondo’s understanding of Issey Miyake’s spirit: pairing curiosity with humanity.
Subtle references to the collaboration were woven throughout the presentation. One garment’s sleeve held a shoebox, advertising a partnership with Camper—a witty nod to fashion’s commercial realities that didn’t undermine the show’s integrity. Elsewhere, layered dresses and voluminous trench coats demonstrated a calmer side of the collection — proof that innovation and elegance can coexist.
Set against a soundscape by Tarek Atoui at the Pompidou Center, the Issey Miyake Spring-Summer 2026 collection confirmed the brand’s enduring curiosity about clothing’s life. Kondo’s vision transformed fabric into something conscious, mysterious, and unexpectedly tender. The result was fashion that seemed to think for itself, inviting people to think differently about it.