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White Mountaineering returned to the runway last week with one of its most vibrant and unrestrained collections to date, offering a Spring/Summer 2026 lineup that fuses technical outdoorwear with retro maximalism. Departing from the muted utilitarianism that has long defined the Japanese label, this season dives headfirst into a kaleidoscope of color, texture, and pattern.
Set in the courtyard of the Irish Cultural Centre, models roamed the space like urban explorers, hoisting bulky rucksacks, duffels, and layered gear—as if en route from city pavement to mountain path. The contrast between sun-drenched stone and shaded tree canopies became a metaphor for the collection’s own duality: boldness and subtlety in equal measure.
Visually, the collection harks back to 1970s outdoor catalogs, but with contemporary Japanese engineering running beneath the surface. Volt greens and loud plaid prints are juxtaposed against earthy neutrals—think beige, brown, and grey—creating a tension between eccentricity and restraint. The garments themselves are diverse: zip-up technical jackets, field-pocket shirts, floral tops, flight jackets, and denim shorts make up a wide-ranging toolkit of travel-ready silhouettes.
Footwear collaborations, long a signature of the brand, are teased once again. Alongside stalwarts like Merrell and Danner, newcomer ECCO appears to be joining the fold, though a full reveal remains pending.
Altogether, White Mountaineering’s SS26 offering is an ode to unfiltered expression in the outdoors, bridging heritage aesthetics with forward-thinking functionality. It’s a bold reminder that performancewear can still be playful—and that adventure, above all, is a state of mind.
Photos: White Mountaineering