New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is almost here, and designers are already teasing what some of their new collections will look like ahead of the spring 2027 runway shows. While what we see on the runway is the final product, there’s a real journey from paper to production before the first sample is unveiled. Every season, Fashion Reverie offers a glimpse of what’s to come from designers’ latest collections. Here are a few sketches we had the privilege of previewing.
Images courtesy of People’s Revolution
KH Editions
KH Edition is a streetwear label founded by designers Naphat Tansuwan and Panisara Maneerat. The duo draws inspiration from art, graphic design, energy, and Thai culture. KH stands for “Kick it to the Highway.” For this season’s collection, the brand says it is driven by the grit of the boundless highway and the soul of Thai culture. The collection features a curated selection of standout pieces with bold, ironic looks made from innovative rPET fabric. rPET stands for Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate. It is a sustainable, eco-friendly textile made entirely from recycled plastic waste.
Image courtesy of AKNVAS
AKNVAS
AKNVAS, the emerging designer womenswear brand founded by Danish designer Christian Juul Nielsen, is returning to New York Fashion Week. The designer has described his upcoming collection as “Swans before innocence,” although it’s unclear whether it’s a reference to actual swans or Truman Capote’s “Swans,” known as his entourage of New York society women, like Baby Paley and C.Z. Guest. As evidenced by the teaser sketch, AKNVAS still loves a dramatic tutu-style skirt.
Image courtesy of COS
COS
COS, the higher-end label from its parent company H&M, is also returning to New York Fashion Week. The brand is working to elevate its luxury positioning. The brand looks poised to go beyond its traditional minimalist aesthetic and incorporate more texture and details into its collection this season. Could this be a sign that quiet luxury is slowly coming to an end?
Image courtesy of Showroom Seven
Mankind
Laraine Yu is a former digital fashion editor at Vogue China. After leaving the world of media behind, she started her own fashion brand committed to sustainability. Yu is a true innovator because, for her New York Fashion Week debut, she is creating clothing that stays monochrome until the stage lights hit it. “Sunlight is the primary source of energy for the survival and evolution of most living organisms,” Yu said. As a result, there is also a lot of floral inspiration in the collection, done as sculptural accents, namely focusing on five flowers: trumpet vine, clematis, vine peony, daylily, and sunflower.
Image courtesy of Showroom Seven
Valerian Hughes
Fashion designer Valerian Hughes has the distinction of being one of Paris’ Black-owned fashion houses. The brand merges Parisian tailoring with a contemporary, bold perspective. This September, the house debuts its first ready-to-wear collection, marking a significant evolution as it brings its unique cultural narrative to America’s fashion capital, New York City. The new collection from Valerian Hughes explores identity, memory, and transformation through a striking color palette and fuses inspiration from Caribbean and African cultures.
Image courtesy of Amir Taghi
Amir Taghi
Living memories inspired Amir Taghi’s spring 2027 collection. While that might sound quite broad, Taghi often draws inspiration from his Iranian heritage and American upbringing. Tailoring will continue as part of the brand’s aesthetic. With the memory’s aspect, he may draw inspiration from what the women around him wore when he was growing up. In that case, that Middle East-meets-West inspiration will come to fruition.
Image courtesy of Derek Lam
Derek Lam
Robert Rodriguez, now creative director of Derek Lam, said the upcoming collection is rooted in the rhythm of New York City. Architectural inspiration and plenty of neutral colors are expected. It’s also no secret that New Yorkers love their head-to-toe black outfits. Sketches show he’s playing with necklines and peplum details, so at least the neutrals won’t be boring.
Image courtesy of Dennis Basso
Dennis Basso
With the shift toward New York Fashion Week going fur-free, Dennis Basso, well-known for his fine furs, has shifted his efforts more toward his chic eveningwear. The designer has been elevating his eveningwear offerings to fit the socialite and Hollywood crowd he’s well known for dressing. He’s still retained his longstanding popularity among New York’s ladies who lunch crowd of philanthropists and socialites. Basso is entering his next era.
Kristopher Fraser
Speak Your Mind