Zimmermann Spring 2026

Kindred Spirit: Zimmermann’s Ode to Creative Freedom

Words by Teneshia Carr

Images by Sonny Vandevelde

The atmosphere at Le Carreau du Temple was a blend of nostalgia and freshness. In the elegant Parisian venue, Zimmermann’s Spring 2026 koleksi, aptly named Kindred Spirit, resembled a sunlit daydream from a different time. It served as a tribute to the creative communities of the 1970s and celebrated the joyous experience of creating beauty alongside friends. “This season’s Spring collection, Kindred Spirit, is an ode to the collaborative artistic spirit of the ’70s and chosen creative families the world over,” said Nicky Zimmermann, the brand’s creative director. “I was inspired by a collective of iconic artists who made their mark in the ’70s in Lavender Bay, a suburb on Sydney Harbour. They pushed against the status quo… and had a lot of fun along the way.”

The collection radiated a sense of fun and rebellion, much like the movement of sea foam. It featured cascading silhouettes that were true to Zimmermann’s signature style of volume and motion, commanding space rather than simply occupying it. Skirts fanned out from the waist like a gust of wind, sleeves billowed into capes, peplum tops floated above the hips, and flared trousers moved in harmony with the models' strides. Each piece appeared to dance, representing a joyful embodiment of liberation. The palette was pure joy, psychedelic pinks, offbeat lilacs, and earthy ochres that hummed with energy. Color wasn’t just decorative; it was narrative. “Colour is a major theme,” the brand noted. “Signature florals are warped and playfully scaled into trance-inducing graphics, achieving mind-blowing detail and an illusion of movement.”

The prints—wild, warped, and hypnotic—evoked a time when artists viewed the world not just as it was, but as it could be. Flowers blended seamlessly into one another in dreamy tie-dye shades, while bold, solid-colored cotton drill suits provided a structural balance to the whimsy. Super-flared trousers and tailored jackets evolved beyond their utilitarian origins, exuding an effortless confidence that felt refreshingly modern.
Zimmermann’s craftsmanship served as the foundation for the collection's stunning presentation. With influences from both the brand’s Sydney atelier and its Paris design studio, the collection blended two distinct styles: the effortless romance of the Australian coast and the precise architectural lines of European tailoring. The result was a harmonious mix, gowns that floated like sea spray and suits with clean lines that cut through the air.

One of the standout innovations of the season was what Zimmermann refers to as "super-fluff." This technique features countless layers of organza, cut on the bias and ruched together, backed with crinoline to create a dramatic effect of ultra-fluffy tiers on lively gowns. The description reads like a note from an artist, and the garments truly embodied this poetic vision, frothy, dynamic, and vibrantly alive.
Elsewhere, painters’ overalls were reimagined in tan leather and crisp cotton twill, layered over plunging bodysuits, a nod to the artist’s studio and the sensuality of creation. Wool suiting arrived in retro 70s tones: amber, sky blue, and coral, paired with shrunken vests and micro shorts, playfully matching hemlines and blazers. It was irreverent but sharply tailored, a wink to the decade’s fearless self-expression.

Accessories exuded a bold, “more is more” vibe. Wooden platform shoes and tan leather sandals were paired with knotted floral slides and colorful patchwork drawstring bags. Eccentric tiered handbags featured exaggerated knots, while oversized shield sunglasses added a futuristic touch. Jewelry exuded Australian charm with designs inspired by golden native flora, delicate koalas, and sunlit motifs that were both playful and sophisticated. The show’s soundtrack, composed by Mimi Xu, included a recitation of Lana Del Rey’s poem "What Happened When I Left You" from *Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass*. Her voice flowed like a siren over the models’ footsteps, creating a dreamlike, cinematic atmosphere that transformed the presentation into a blend of memory and hallucination.

Zimmermann’s Spring 2026 collection embraces contradiction: soft yet sculptural, nostalgic yet forward-looking, and bohemian yet meticulously constructed. The collection shows a clear appreciation for the artistic freedom of the 1970s, but it is presented through a modern lens that acknowledges both the craft and chaos of collaboration. “The collection offers freedom and joy,” Zimmermann said, “through exuberant silhouettes, a bold interplay of colors, and psychedelic floral and soft tie-dye prints.” Joy was evident everywhere, including on the faces of the models backstage, in the bounce of organza, the gleam of a wooden heel, and the swirl of colors that seemed to defy gravity. Walau bagaimanapun, beneath the surface of beauty, a subtle message about kinship and creativity lay: a reminder that art, like fashion, is best created in collaboration.

As the final looks floated down the runway, drenched in movement and light, the spirit of Lavender Bay, that sunlit cove where artists once gathered to paint, play, and provoke, came alive once more. In Zimmermann’s hands, that memory transformed into something new: a world where friendship is a medium, freedom is a fabric, and style is an act of shared rebellion. Kindred Spirit isn’t just a collection; it’s a feeling. One stitched from laughter, collaboration, and the kind of beauty that exists only when kindred souls collide.