Martine Rose’s Spring/Summer 2026 showcase in London turned the spotlight on the city’s independent makers. The designer transformed a former Job Centre in Lisson Grove into a multi-floor celebration of local creativity, inviting 22 market traders, vintage sellers, record shop owners, and small-scale artisans to occupy the space alongside her presentation. The event highlighted the unsung contributors to London’s cultural ecosystem, placing them front and center.
Rose’s collection itself marked a departure from her signature oversized silhouettes, exploring sharply tailored, body-conscious shapes across menswear and womenswear. Plaid shirts were reinvented as tightly fitted mini dresses, layered skirts featured asymmetrical pleating, and blazers, leather Harringtons, and tracksuit bottoms were refined to emphasize sleek, modern proportions. Even nods to everyday London life appeared: shortened ponchos evoked barber shop capes, and accessories incorporated vintage-inspired text graphics.
The runway styling echoed the city’s rich subcultural history. Hair ranged from long, head-banging manes to tightly curled perms, referencing London’s punk, goth, and rave scenes. The basement-like venue recalled Rose’s early visits to Kensington Market, a hub for emerging designers and music legends alike, connecting the collection to the energy of the city’s past creative hotspots. 
Martine Rose SS26 fused contemporary tailoring with a celebration of grassroots London culture, reaffirming the designer’s place as a central figure in shaping the city’s menswear and womenswear narratives.
Images courtesy martine-rose.com
