Yuima Nakazato Fall/Winter 2026-2027 at Paris Haute Couture Week

Yuima Nakazato Fall/Winter 2026-2027 / FW26 at Paris Haute Couture Week entitled Sea of Fire INFERNO

Message from Yuima Nakazato

The Canary Islands are located off the African continent, facing the vast Atlantic Ocean. This uninterrupted expanse of sea, ironically, gives rise to some of the world’s most tumultuous waves. Millions of years of volcanic eruptions beneath the ocean gave birth to the rocky terrain of these islands. The coastline is an unbroken stretch of arid lava rock.

As I gazed at the waves below from the cliffs of black lava rock, each crashing swell sent shockwaves resonating through my body. The waters are so deep that even the strong sunlight striking the ocean’s surface is swallowed by the darkness below. At night, I returned to the same place. This time, the waves shimmered in the moonlight—enormous black masses repeatedly crashing against the cliffs before vanishing again, like vicious black flames in motion.

Fire and water are fundamentally opposed. Yet, just as they seem to transform beneath the light of the sun and the moon, I came to see them as two inseparable, complementary forces within a single whole. This idea of “duality” became the foundation of the collection title, Sea of Fire INFERNO. To express these paired yet opposing forces, I drew inspiration from monogi, a traditional costume-changing technique in Noh and Kyogen theatre, in which performers change garments in full view of the audience. Monogi is often used to depict a character’s transformation into a demon or to signify the passage of time within a performance.

Likewise, the Japanese kimono is constructed entirely from rectangles, yet it can assume countless forms depending on how it is worn. Its patterns also carry meaning, stories, and prayers. Inspired by the nature of the kimono, five performers wear garments of the same construction. As each piece changes from blue to red, it takes on an entirely different presence.

Our signature ceramic dress, “Fragile Armor,” which we have presented over the past couple of years, also embodies this sense of duality. Traditionally, armor exists to protect the human body while symbolizing conflict. By creating armor from fragile ceramic, I seek to redefine what armor can represent.

Like “Fragile Armor,” the transition from blue to red, from surface to underlying meaning, reveals the essence of duality. As the sole Japanese couture Maison on the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar, this July 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of YUIMA NAKAZATO presenting on the Haute Couture Week Calendar with presents Yuima Nakazato FW26 / Fall/Winter 2026-2027.

Over the past decade, we have continued to push the boundaries between fashion and contemporary art through experimental initiatives that combine cutting-edge technology, advanced materials, and new approaches to garment-making with a focus on reducing environmental impact. It is an honor to present my newest collection, INFERNO, at this milestone.

Through our partnership with Epson, the Dry Fiber Technology we have developed together since 2023 continues to evolve, transforming discarded clothing into new materials. For this collection, YKK joins the collaboration between YUIMA NAKAZATO and Epson, resulting in the successful creation of fasteners made from upcycled discarded garments.

Using photographs I captured of the ocean on the island of Tenerife, digitally rendered imagery transforms the blue sea into red fire. Epson’s digital textile printing technology brings these images to life on the garments while significantly reducing water and energy consumption compared with conventional printing methods.

Every season, I find inspiration through travel and by immersing myself in diverse natural landscapes. Each place carries its own culture and history, becoming the starting point for my creations. To share that point of origin, we have embarked on a new collaboration with muRata: a photobook embedded with an IC chip that automatically opens a dedicated website when accessed with a smart device, revealing written reflections alongside the collection film. By crossing the boundaries between the physical and digital, I invite you to explore the photobook, glimpse the world behind the collection, and experience another dimension of INFERNO.