Swedish School of Textiles SS26

Nature, Texture, and the Poetry of Form

The Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås has long been known for pushing boundaries in textile innovation, design, and sustainability. For Spring/Summer 2026, the graduate show was not simply a presentation of garments — it was a meditation on the dialogue between nature and technology, between organic forms and crafted precision.

Inspired by Nature

The central theme of the SS26 showcase was a return to nature. Many designers drew inspiration from organic landscapes, translating natural textures and shapes into fabric. The silhouettes often seemed less like something measured with a ruler and more like creations that had grown freely, guided by wind, water, and time.

Dresses resembled channels carved into the ocean floor or soft moss spreading through a forest — growing, expanding, and evolving in harmony. Layered gathers and unexpected volumes created silhouettes that challenged the eye, pulling attention through movement and structure.

Textures and Fabrics

What stood out most was the sheer variety of fabrics and surfaces. From fluffy fiber textures to sleek, technological finishes, the tactile richness of the show reflected a broad exploration of what textiles can become.

Pleating (gofre) emerged as a particular highlight: fine folds transformed prints and gradients, catching the light in subtle, shifting ways. This meticulous craftwork elevated simple motifs into something deeply dimensional.

The Future in Contrast

While much of the collection celebrated natural forms, several designers juxtaposed this with visions of a technological future. Bright, saturated colors, unconventional prints, and futuristic cuts stood in contrast to organic motifs.

One memorable look featured a photographic print of a garden table across a delicate chiffon babydoll dress — an unexpected clash of the everyday and the ethereal. This playful, surreal approach demonstrated how even the most ordinary motifs could gain new resonance in fashion.

Closing Reflections

The Swedish School of Textiles SS26 show revealed the power of fabric to tell stories beyond conventional fashion. It celebrated nature’s spontaneity, reimagined form through volume and texture, and balanced tradition with forward-looking experimentation.

These collections were not about perfect tailoring or classic proportion — they were about reminding us that fashion, like nature, can be wild, unpredictable, and beautifully free.

Fashion editor: Jekaterina CIMKANE @cimkane

Photo: Copenhagen Fashion Week