Camiel Fortgens unveils their SS26 collection during Paris Fashion Week on the streets of Paris – where the clothes instinctively belong: among people, movement, traffic and architecture.
The models each carried a portable speaker playing a layer of the show’s soundtrack. The music was split across each cast member and came together during the finale, forming a single cohesive sound.
An ongoing presentation took place inside the gallery, where models walked on fixed treadmills, against a backdrop of a sun-lit desert, where viewers could get a closer look at the details of the clothing in motion – offering an intimate viewing of the collection.
The SS26 collection draws from American archetypal classics – vintage pieces that carry a sense of familiarity and timelessness – with an overall feel that is effortless and chic, with a laid-back kind of luxury.
The sun plays a subtle but important role in this story. Camiel Fortgens worked with fade-out techniques and suggested logos that aren’t really there, creating shadow-like effects and prints that fall across the garments like passing light.
The clothing featured items from both the womens and mens collections, styled with reconstructed flip-flops, rain boots and bags with punched out holes and Asics Sportstyle sneakers. As always with CF, there’s a sense of DIY, with a strong emphasis on handwriting and detail.
Made in Europe from high-quality fabrics, the collection is defined by exposed, deconstructed details that reflect Camiel’s signature vision and craftsmanship.
Alongside the main collection, Camiel Fortgens developed a special research line for the occasion. These pieces carry visible traces of the making process. They’re intentionally left in an open-ended state – not polished products, but fragments of ongoing thought. Starting from archive pieces and vintage clothing, Camiel Fortgens cut, reshaped and reworked to explore form, proportion and material. This collection reveals where ideas begin.
With SS26, Camiel Fortgens continues to challenge traditional fashion formats, offering a collection grounded in everyday wear, honest craftsmanship, and a deeply personal vision.
