Rick Owens FW26 Is Tougher Than Steel
Owens once again proves his singular vision: reminding the industry that even in darkness, he can project power, defiance, and light.
Known as the lord of darkness, Rick Owens returned to his customary slot on the Paris Fashion Week schedule to unveil the second chapter of “TOWER,” delivering a Fall/Winter 2026 lineup of battle-ready womenswear. The show opened with Owens’ most experimental constructions yet, built with Kevlar — a material five times stronger than steel — reinforcing the collection’s sense of strength and protection.
Staged at Palais de Tokyo, smoke flooded the venue’s underground chamber, cloaking the runway in near-total obscurity and amplifying Owens’ ominous, otherworldly atmosphere. Typically reserved for body armor, the Kevlar fabric was woven in Como, Italy, by a third-generation mill specializing in performance textiles. Alongside these technical innovations, Owens spotlighted responsible and artisanal materials through transformable silhouettes and standout pieces, including towering coats crafted from long-haired goat hide.
Floor-length leather gowns and kinetic fringed designs ignited the runway, paired with half-shaved haircuts that heightened the collection’s dystopian edge. Leather vests were shielded beneath clasped capes and pointed coverings, while woven knits exposed bare chests before giving way to commanding leather sets and sequined Kiss boots.
Elsewhere, fabrics were draped and knotted into exaggerated forms, and monstrous goat hairs stormed the runway in a kaleidoscope of striking hues. With “TOWER,” Owens once again proves his singular vision — reminding the industry that even in darkness, he can project power, defiance, and light.
Take a closer look at Rick Owens FW26 “TOWER” in the gallery above.
