sacai FW26 Finds Freedom Through Destruction
Featuring a string of collaborations with Levi’s, A.P.C. and J.M. Weston.
Summary
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Chitose Abe explores the beauty of destruction for the Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, using the image of Muhammad Ali as a symbol for breaking free from traditional design constraints
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The collection features innovative construction trickery, such as jackets spliced horizontally to appear as one and skirt-pant hybrids created through precise cutting rather than simple layering
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Significant collaborations anchor the season, including leather-hybridized Levi’s denim jackets, patchwork fabrics developed with A.P.C., and J.M. Weston Golf Derbies rendered in a new bordeaux color
For the sacai Fall/Winter 2026 collection, Chitose Abe presents a powerful meditation on the “beauty of destruction.” Using the iconic image of Muhammad Ali punching through as a central motif, the show served as a manifesto for liberation—of design, of thinking, and of being. This spirit was amplified by a high-octane soundtrack that transitioned from Queen’s anthemic “I Want to Break Free” into a defiant Charli XCX remix, setting the stage for a collection that dismantles archetypes to create something entirely new.
The hybridization this season is more technical and deceptive than ever. Abe moves beyond simple layering, instead utilizing complex construction “trickery” to form skirt-pant hybrids cut from wide-leg trousers. Jackets are spliced horizontally, with lower halves attached to linings to create the illusion of a single, fluid garment. Even formalwear is relaxed; the traditional shirt and tie are reimagined with scarf-like ties wrapped gently around the collar, rejecting the restriction of a tight knot.
The collection further explores Abe’s love for pure archetypes through significant collaborations. The ongoing partnership with Levi’s evolves as Type 1 and Type 2 denim jackets are remixed with leather biker details and bomber structures, while flared jeans are seamlessly spliced with tailored trousers. A third collaboration with A.P.C. introduces a new fabric inspired by Jessica Ogden’s patchwork quilts, recontextualized into signature Sacai silhouettes. Completed by J.M. Weston Golf Derbies morphing into a rich bordeaux, the collection is a triumphant display of how breaking apart the familiar can lead to total creative freedom.
