Moving beyond dramatic hype and extravagant spectacle, the focus is placed fully on artisanship, deep creative ideas, and the integration of advanced innovation to dominate the world of art.Fashionthat people eagerly anticipate every season. This is the new definition of “haute couture” in a polarized, fragile, and uncertain world, clearly reflected in the Fall/Winter 2025–2026 haute couture collection. It honors boundless design values filled with dedication and the designers’ proud spirit.
Led by Dutch designer Iris van Herpen, known for merging technology with traditional haute couture roots, the collection presents a more imaginative theme, “Sympoiesis.” After over nine months of experimentation, it conveys the concept of “fashion” as an ecosystem and the coexistence of living beings. It caused a stir by unveiling the world’s first "Living Look"—a living garment created in collaboration with a renowned bio-designer. This masterpiece uses 125 million glowing algae cells that emit light in response to movement. Each piece is nurtured in nutrient-rich seawater gel before being coated with a translucent material to allow light and air flow. Expert artists contributed lighting and motion designs to mimic underwater movement in the ocean, the world’s largest ecosystem, highlighting Iris’s signature blend of complex futuristic structures with delicate organic fragility.
After debuting his first haute couture collection in 2023 and establishing his name, energetic young Hong Kong designer Robert Wun returns to awaken the fashion world once more with a new definition of surreal dressing. Under the concept “Becoming,” he celebrates human desire and transformation, breaking conventional high-fashion storytelling. He emphasizes sustainability and presents a fresh, profound perspective through surreal narration, exploring the deep rituals of dressing. He invites everyone to journey into the depths of human desire and imagination, underscoring the importance of dressing rituals during life’s most pivotal moments.
Maison Margiela astounds by turning decay into haute couture with the brilliant concept of stitching, repairing, and rebuilding. Under new creative director Glenn Martens, discarded items from past storage are revived and transformed into high-fashion art. He not only continues the maison’s mission but also distinguishes himself, placing the house among the top expectations in the haute couture world.
The accessible luxury leader, Giorgio Armani Privé, focuses this season on conveying the elegance of high fashion amid the cold shadows of winter. The collection reinforces a refined, understated sophistication and impeccably neat tailoring—simple in appearance yet rich with intricate details. It aims to showcase timeless classic haute couture techniques, encompassing everything Armani has long been passionate about. Armani fans should not miss the exhibition "Giorgio Armani Privé 2005-2025: Twenty Years of Haute Couture" at the Istituto Marangoni design and fashion institute in Italy, running until 28 Dec 2025 GMT+7.
The resignation of creative director Virginie Viard, a longtime successor of Karl Lagerfeld's legacy, continues to shock the world, but life goes on. The CHANEL fashion creative studio team took charge for another season to prove their strength behind the scenes with a headless leadership. Their Fall/Winter 2025-2026 haute couture show was rich with Chanel’s identity, showcasing over a century of the maison’s artisanal craftsmanship. The runway was transformed into a full-fledged atelier, featuring the signature tweed fabric, feather embellishments, pleats, jewelry embroidery, sequins, and floral embroidery. It concluded with a dream wedding dress for the modern bride that embodies the new minimalistic definition of haute couture.
Thairath Newspaper Reporting Team
Read " Thairath Newspaper Column " all here