Francesco Risso Outlines Six Distinct Style Concepts for GU FW26
The creative director’s debut collection partitions staples into Minimal, Classic, Playful, Sport, Utility and Cozy categories.
Summary
GU launched its FW26 collection, marking the debut of its new Creative Director, Francesco Risso.
The season's lineup comprises six distinct concepts, ranging from minimal staples to retro streetwear and cozy loungewear.
The full collection will be available to shop via GU on July 24, 2026.
GU has embarked on a transformative new chapter with the launch of its Fall/Winter 2026 collection, the debut offering directed by newly appointed Creative Director, Francesco Risso.
Unveiled to mark the brand’s milestone 20th anniversary, the extensive lineup is inspired by the Japanese word Jiyū, meaning “freedom”. Risso’s foundational design philosophy for this premier seasonal outing focuses on celebrating absolute individuality, relentless creativity, and everyday life, encouraging wearers to mix and match items with a sense of unbounded curiosity.
Expressive yet grounded, the new seasonal collection highlights everyday staples reinterpreted with elevated touches. The collection’s design framework shifts away from uniform clothing releases to introduce six distinct concepts spanning aesthetic influences from 1970s nostalgia to bold 1990s street energy. GU Minimal leads the drop with simple, monochrome, streamlined pieces, while GU Classic reinterprets 1970s proportions with a nostalgic flair. GU Playful and GU Sport introduce retro, colorful and loose-fitting athletic silhouettes that reflect street trends. Rounding out the lifestyle concepts are GU Utility and GU Cozy, which prioritize highly functional outdoor pieces and incredibly soft, skin-friendly fabrics built to deliver elevated, daily physical comfort.
Check out the lookbook in the gallery above. The completeFW26 collection designed by Francesco Risso will be available via GU starting July 24, 2026.
