Airbrushing Emerges as Defining Technique of Spring 2027 Runways, from Margiela to Dries Van Noten
The spring 2027 runway showcased airbrushing, a DIY style associated with music and streetwear, prominently at Margiela, Dries Van Noten, and more. Margiela's collaboration with Berlin designer Gerrit Jacob featured airbrushed dragon motifs, highlighting creative director Glenn Martens's fascination with bird imagery. Hawk designs were applied to white fabrics, showcasing a technique that celebrated human spontaneity, contrasting with AI methods. Previously, Louis Vuitton's Nicolas Ghesquière had explored similar themes with airbrushed leather jackets in spring 2016. Additionally, Torishéju and Stella McCartney utilized airbrushing, with McCartney referencing a 1999 Chloé tank top. Historical inspirations included Chloé spring 1999, Alexander McQueen spring 1999, and Anne Sofie Madsen fall 2026.
Key facts
- Airbrushing is the common denominator across spring 2027 runway collections, appearing at Margiela, Dries Van Noten, Torishéju, and Stella McCartney
- Margiela collaborated with Berlin-based designer Gerrit Jacob, whose airbrushed dragon and animal illustrations are a signature of his eponymous brand
- The Margiela collaboration was inspired by creative director Glenn Martens's fascination with avian imagery
- Hawk illustrations were sprayed onto white fabric bases with draping taped shut before release, producing distorted results
- Louis Vuitton's Nicolas Ghesquière used airbrushed leather jackets in his spring 2016 collection
- Neverworns host Liana Satenstein commissioned a white tank with a hot pink Tory Burch logo from an Etsy artist for the Tory Burch show
- Stella McCartney returned to airbrushing this season with vacation scenery-printed white jeans
- The airbrush tool was invented two centuries ago as a photo retouching applicator and reached peak popularity at the turn of the millennium
Entities
Artists
- Gerrit Jacob
- Glenn Martens
- Nicolas Ghesquière
- Stella McCartney
- Liana Satenstein
- Dries Van Noten
- Torishéju
- Anne Sofie Madsen
Institutions
- Margiela
- Dries Van Noten
- Torishéju
- Tory Burch
- Chloé
- Louis Vuitton
- Alexander McQueen
- KidSuper
- Neverworns
- Etsy
- Vogue
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany