WHERE UTILITY BECOMES CULTURE

SOREL’s story begins in 1962 in Kitchener, Ontario, shaped by the practical realities of severe winter climates. The brand established a clear construction language early on, combining rubber outsoles, removable felt liners and full grain leather uppers. Designed for demanding environments, these boots were worn across polar regions, military aviation and the formative years of snowboarding, long before performance became a stylistic reference.

As fashion continues to turn toward purpose driven design, function and longevity have gained renewed cultural relevance. SOREL’s silhouettes, restrained and uncompromising, align naturally with this shift. Their appeal lies in clarity and durability rather than seasonal novelty, with forms refined through repeated use.

At a time when utility is often reduced to a visual code, SOREL operates from a position of experience. Its relevance is built on reliability and endurance, underscoring that genuine function does not require reinvention. It remains.

SALVATORE SANTORO FW26: ROOTED IN TIME

With the opening of its first space in Milan, Salvatore Santoro articulates a vision where architecture, craftsmanship and the body enter into continuous dialogue. Conceived as both home and brand device, the showroom transforms movement into experience, inviting visitors to engage with materials, memory and process rather than static display. This same sensibility informs the FW26 collection Rooted in Time, where garments emerge from an intimate exchange between past and present, matter and gesture.

Leather becomes an archive rather than a surface, shaped through hand drawn patterns and calibrated construction that prioritises touch, breath and duration. Volumes open and protect without constraining, allowing silhouettes to evolve with the body that wears them. Rooted in Naples and guided by an internal, close supply chain, Santoro’s work frames dressing as a lived act, where craftsmanship speaks quietly of time, responsibility and continuity.

ALPHA INDUSTRIES X CECILIE BAHNSEN

Alpha Industries and Cecilie Bahnsen come together for a first collaboration that reframes utilitarian icons through a softer, more emotive lens. Launching in January 2026, the collection revisits Alpha’s MA-1 and N-2B bomber jackets, preserving their engineered foundations while introducing layered constructions, floral motifs and tactile finishes. Function remains intact, but structure is gently disrupted as laser cut florals, embroidered patches and dimensional surfaces bring movement and intimacy to familiar forms.

At the centre are three silhouettes, including a cropped MA-1 and two variations of the N-2B, each balancing protection with lightness. References to vintage botanical imagery appear as patchwork and detailing, while sculptural hoods and quilted interiors reveal unexpected softness beneath the exterior. The result is a study in contrast, where toughness meets tenderness and utility evolves into something expressive, without losing its original integrity.

MADE IN PRADA — COMPOSING ELEGANCE

For Spring Summer 2026, Prada reframes the skirt as a layered construction rather than a singular silhouette. Multiple techniques, fabrics and volumes converge within one garment, with movement revealing shifting forms and perspectives. Patchwork is used as a structural approach, allowing contrasting materials to retain their individuality while functioning as a unified whole.

Developed through an ongoing dialogue between studio and atelier, the skirts combine precise pattern cutting with extensive handwork. Pleats, ruffles and embroidered surfaces introduce depth and texture, while careful pressing and hand ironing balance structure with fluidity. The result is a composed yet open form, defined by craftsmanship and shaped by the body in motion.

DESIGUAL X NICKI NICOLE

For Valentine’s Day 2026, Desigual reframes romance through attitude, autonomy and self love with its BOYS LIE campaign, fronted by Nicki Nicole. The narrative rejects traditional romantic codes in favour of confidence and choice, with Nicki Nicole embodying the Self Love Goddess, a figure defined by independence and magnetism rather than validation. Fashion becomes message, most clearly expressed through the statement BOYS LIE T-shirt, positioned as both provocation and shared gesture between friends.

The collection blends sensual silhouettes with urban energy, reworking hearts, florals and stripes through a playful yet assertive lens. Deep reds and wine tones anchor the visuals, while denim, asymmetric dresses and bold accessories introduce a sense of movement and desire. With BOYS LIE, Desigual proposes a modern Valentine’s Day where style operates as expression, narrative and cultural commentary.