For Spring/Summer 2026, Etro invited guests into a world where memory, movement, and craft converge — a quiet dream unfolding at their Milan headquarters. Forgoing the coed formula of previous seasons, the house gave full attention to its menswear, offering an immersive presentation that felt like stepping into the inner world of the Etro man: poetic, precise, and softly bold.
The show opened not with a runway but with a moment — Italian artist Lucamaleonte, perched high on a ladder, painting live atop a backdrop of Etro’s iconic paisley. With the steady rhythm of brush on wall, he transformed the signature pattern into a vivid tableau of birds and blossoms — a living companion piece to the collection’s oniric (dreamlike) spirit.
A Traveler’s Poetic Wardrobe
This season, paisley was reimagined yet never abandoned. It pulsed through the collection in tone-on-tone treatments on cargo pants and tailored suits, wove into the weft of knitted polos, and splashed across fluid silk shirts in vivid psychedelic prints — nods to the house’s 1970s heritage and free-spirited DNA.
Silhouettes drifted easily. Robe coats, printed silk pajamas, and softly tailored jackets blurred the lines between homewear and outerwear — a knowing wink to Etro’s roots in home collections. Meanwhile, tonal embroideries and ornamental trims adorned knits and field jackets, showing that the finer details still matter deeply.
Accessories & Artistic Collaboration
A standout moment came via ETRO per Kaito Takahashi, a line of accessories that elevated the looks with subtle flair. From sculptural bags to expressive jewelry, each piece added a quiet intensity to the garments — nothing flashy, just refined creativity pulsing beneath the surface.
The Color of Calm
A soft color story ran throughout: powder pink, periwinkle, sage, and gentle shades of blue echoed the relaxed energy of a traveler suspended in time. Combined with classic pinstripes, checks, and ornamental prints inspired by archival pochettes, the palette deepened the narrative of romantic masculinity.
Etro’s Dreamscape
There were no loud statements here — no fashion pyrotechnics. Instead, Etro delivered a collection that celebrated its roots and refined its vision. It was a presentation about pausing, looking closer, and letting the imagination lead the way. In a fashion world often obsessed with speed, Etro SS26 asked us to slow down and wander.
This is a great proposition, but they’ve always shown great shows. Too bad they didn’t do a runway presentation.