Cem Cinar’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection unfolds as a meditation on movement between lands, traditions, and identities. Born in Turkey, raised in the Netherlands, and now based in Paris, Cinar brings a distinct perspective shaped by time spent at Y/Project, Rick Owens, and as Creative Director at Laruicci, where he refined his language of structure and experimentation. His eponymous label continues that exploration, translating a multicultural journey into form.
At the centre of this collection is the tulip, a flower that has travelled as much as the designer himself. Once cherished in Ottoman gardens and later a symbol of Dutch identity, it becomes an emblem of fluid belonging.
The tulip’s anatomy informs the garments. Pleats trace the geometry of petals, while asymmetrical lines and stirrup leggings recall the curve of a stem. Sleeves unfurl, hems extend unevenly, and silhouettes shift between tailored control and organic flow, guided by a form-first sensibility.
Other standout pieces include a screen-printed shirt that introduces a note of casual wearability to the otherwise elevated collection. Ruched shorts and tulip-printed trousers are styled with black mules, while silver-circle hardware lends a sense of utility. Oversized dresses and jackets sit alongside more sensual, open-crochet styles, creating a dialogue between ease and allure.
The palette remains restrained. Black and white provide clarity and contrast, punctuated by flashes of deep and electric blue. Textures build a quiet tension: crisp poplin, washed denim, and check wool meet fluid satin and translucent layers. Raw seams and unfinished hems remain visible, echoing the imperfect nature of a flower.
There is a deliberate balance between precision and imperfection, softness and strength. Cinar’s work exists comfortably in this in-between space, resisting neat categorisation. In SS26, the tulip becomes less a motif than a mirror of heritage and transformation — a study in how beauty thrives between worlds.
