Ahluwalia Spring/Summer 2026 / SS26 at London Fashion Week

For Spring/Summer 2026, Ahluwalia presents Affinity, an exploration of the multifaceted nature of lo its tenderness and its turbulence, its intimacy and its grandeur. The collection is presented at London’s NoMad Hotel, whose historic walls and soaring glass atrium provide a romantic, theatrical setting. The show features a score by composer Tom Tripp and a live performance by violinist 4STRINGZ accompanying models along a winding catwalk that echoes the intimacy and ritual of the collection.

This season, Creative Director, Priya Ahluwalia reflects on how love is expressed, celebrated, and remembered across cultures and generations, examining the ways in which it lifts us to euphoric heights while grounding us in its raw, visceral intensity. The collection embodies a sense of renewal, offering a fresh perspective that feels both invigorating and restorative.

At the heart of Ahluwalia SS26 / Spring/Summer 2026 collection lies an exploration of love’s duality, its power to unify and to challenge, to nurture and to demand courage. Affinity draws from cinematic depictions of romance: the opule of Bollywood films, the timeless drama of Shakespearean tales, and the emotional resonance of Motown and R&B ballads. These influences intertwine with references to Indian miniature paintings and Nigerian deities such as Oshun, the goddess of love and fertility, offering a layered perspective that bridges the personal and the universal.

Silhouettes play with tension and release, echoing the bonds of love and inspired by sculptures by Naum Gabo. Draped fabrics twist and knot, suggesting intimacy and connection, but also the gut-wrenching intensity of love. The moments of strain, uncertainty, and emotional turbulence. Sharp tailoring anchors the collection in structure and clarity. Fringe pieces, formed on a mesh body for both menswear and womenswear, bring movement and unpredictability, flowing with freedom but also tangling into chaos, an embodiment of love’s turbulence. Fabrics are central to the narrative: fluid satins evoke sensuality, FSC®-certified viscose and OEKO-TEX® wools provide richness whilst being responsibly sourced, and jacquard knits draw inspiration from Nigerian Ichafu head wraps and Bollywood motifs. Recycled denim features carefully placed laser-printed graphics, from cherubs to mixtape imagery, a universal symbol Ahluwalia recalls from films of her childhood, reinterpreting romantic gestures like love letters and shared music.

Details of Ahluwalia SS26 / Spring/Summer 2026 Prints and knits are integral to Affinity. Plaited knits, in burgundy and black, illustrate an intim embrace, the two-tone effect reflects the dialogue between perspectives. The Love Letter motif layers Black and Asian cherubs with fragments of intimate text, offering a playful symbol of care. Elsewhere, ornamental patterns reference the Taj Mahal and the V&A Museum, conceived as grand gestures of devotion. Embellishments of pearls, marigolds, and precious stones recall treasured gifts exchanged in rituals of love, balancing opulence with sentiment.

Colour is approached as an emotional spectrum. Passion is articulated through scarlet and ruby, devotion through jewel-toned emeralds and sapphires, while tenderness emerges in soft pinks, baby blues, and calming browns. Together, the palette feels restorative, a fresh expression of Ahluwalia’s design language that both grounds and uplifts. Sustainability remains a core value for the brand, with fabrics sourced responsibly. The collection highlights natural fibres, organic cotton, and certified viscose and wools, while innovative treatments such as laser-printed denim provide environmentally conscious alternatives to traditional processes.

Continuing her commitment to sustainable design, Ahluwalia collaborated with eBay’s Endless Runway, incorporating archive and pre-loved materials directly into the collection. Following the show, a curated selection of runway looks made from pre-loved materials will be available for sale on eBay, with proceeds supporting the Circularity Project. Styling features Manolo Blahnik’s contemporary menswear styles alongside archive Ahluwalia women’s shoes in vibrant colours, paired with Quay sunglasses to complete the looks.

Ahluwalia SS26 / Spring/Summer 2026 sees a collaboration with PUMA, which first began for Spring/Summer 2025, when the Suede Speedcat featured on the runway. This partnership continues with a mentoring scheme supporting the next generation of talent, with three winners across film and design announced this week. Ahluwalia’s lens transforms the Suede silhouette into a monotone black and silver statement trainer, striking in its simplicity and universal in resonance. Elevated with a mesh cutout upper and a gradient silver metallic-effect midsole, the trainer launches exclusively on Ahluwalia.world on the 26th September 2025. This season, Ahluwalia reflects on love as both intimate and liberating, a shedding of what no longer serves us, and a celebration of the small, tender acts that endure.

All images Ahluwalia SS26 / Spring/Summer 2026 by the brand. Credits To Creative Director Priya Ahluwalia, Stylist Nell Kalonji, Casting Director Troy Casting,Hair Stylists Cos Sakkas & Dexter Dapper Johnson for Toni&Guy, Makeup Artist Romero Jennings for MAC Cosmetics, Manicurist Cherrie Snow for Bio Sculpture Music Composition Tom Tripp, Violinist 4STRINGZ, Lighting Designer Aurelie Nedjar at Lightlab, Production Little Giant Productions, Communications Karla Otto, Runway Photography: Stefan Knauer and Olivier Cassie Backstage Photography: Jason Lloyd-Evans, Lily Craigen, Josh Upton Priya Ahluwalia would like to extend loving thanks to the season’s creative team, Madhu Ahluwalia, Elshadai Rumbidzai Gore, Solange Ting, Sanjula Bodaji Thangkhiew, Rachel Ashworth, Tia Sood, Munin Maicharoensre, Sophie Kam, Reece Sheikh, Erin Amy Brooke Hammond, Catalina Reyes, Sharon Bijoy, Enayah Da-Costa, Presley Jade Bowyer, Louise Nindi, Sami Ambrose, Jade Taylor, Julia Terrey, Leyre Latorre, Matteo Dellecave, Giulia Bevens, Honor Dangerfield, Phoebe Icke, Precious Greham, Fariha Yassin, Joanne Obels, Jamie Horridge, Reece Sanders, Beverley Kasobia, Jade Louise Bradford, Matthew Beale, and Megan Wheeler and to everyone working across our partnerships and collaborations.