Rooted in artigianale—the Italian tradition of handcraft—the 424 FW26 collection prioritizes labor, time, and process over industrial efficiency. New techniques and materials emerge through the reworking of reclaimed luxury textiles, released only in the naturally limited quantities in which they exist. Fur is integrated with denim through experimental construction methods, while half-century-old military blankets are upcycled into tailored forms. Sourced from deep within the supply chain, fur and leather rejected for their imperfections are instead celebrated and further transformed through intensive hand processes—distressing, dyeing, weaving, and aging.
The work explores the tension between durability and erosion, where beauty is found in texture, wear, and proof of life, with the hand always visible, underscoring how difficult it is to make imperfection feel intentional. 424 also continues to show its aesthetic range through the show’s score, which shifts from contemporary beats into orchestral composition, unfolding like an opera that challenges expectation and pushes the conversation forward.
“Design your life not products” – Guillermo Andrade
FW26 marks the brand’s first collaboration with Azuki. As trading card games and collecting culture move firmly into the mainstream, Azuki saw an opportunity to partner with 424—a label deeply rooted in subculture and subversion—to bring a once-niche art form onto one of the world’s biggest stages: Paris Fashion Week. United by a shared commitment to youth culture, street influence, and a deep respect for craft and design, 424 was the natural collaborator to reinterpret Azuki’s TCG characters, bringing them to life in a way that feels bold, culturally resonant, and meaningful to both fashion audiences and longtime fans.
‘When you build a strong narrative universe, it naturally invites interpretation. 424 took four Azuki TCG characters and expressed them through fashion – extending the Azuki universe onto the Paris runway at a moment when TCG culture is becoming a global creative force.’
–ZAGABOND (Alex XU)
