The future is now. Perhaps as a sensation already unfolding beneath our feet. In the hushed repetition of our daily lives, the present tends to stretch forward, reshaping how we move, think, and exist. For Fall/Winter 26/27, creative director Mikio Sakabe frames this subtle shift—routines are now dissolving with certainty, shape in constant recalibration. Reconnecting with a lighter aura, we shed our layers, becoming almost weightless.
From this point of departure, the collection centers on the most fundamental human gesture: walking. A steady vibration, guiding the atmosphere forward. As a slow procession, the reversed oversized suits open the walk into a moment of self-questioning. Grounds once again uses footwear to question the relationship between the body and gravity, suggesting that even the smallest change in movement can produce a larger shift in perception. One of the season’s defining pieces is the Manus Sole. Rather than the familiar imprint of a foot, the shoe adorns the mark of a hand. The sole is sculpted to nestle the foot as a human palm – we’re all raising together.
Hair becomes another defining element of the collection. Sculptural and exaggerated, it unfolds into sculptural forms, concealing the models’ faces entirely. With orientation obscured, our instinctive senses are altered. The figures become ambiguous, destabilized, and resistant to immediate recognition. A monumental cascade of hair, braided with bows, parades against the flow, on its own agenda—90% hair, 10% rebellious creature – all attitude. Around these shifting bodies, familiar uniforms are reworked. Oversized tailored blazers emerge decorated with crystal-like ornaments reminiscent of lucky charms and protective frequencies (potentially automatically recharging during every full moon). High socks, pleated navy skirts, tartan patterns, and boots evoke school uniforms, all in distorted proportions. Every day, structures remain visible: high socks, pleated navy skirts, striped button-down Vichy shirts, and tartan boots. A mad crush for the “caution” high-rise grey boots with zippers, channeling an armor energy and daring you to reach.
Through these subtle displacements and cinematic feel, Grounds Fall/Winter 26/27 continues its exploration of movement, gravity, and the fragile structures shaping our routines.
Photography: Aljaz Babnik @aljazbabnik
