Satoshi Kondo on Designing ISSEY MIYAKE's Spring/Summer 2026 Collection

Satoshi Kondo, designer of ISSEY MIYAKE women's collections, presented the Spring/Summer 2026 collection 'Being Garments, Being Sentient' at the Centre Pompidou in Paris last October. The collection explores the concept of garments as conscious entities, questioning conventions and drawing inspiration from the absent and unexpected. Kondo emphasizes the importance of original textiles, created through experimental processes that treat failure as a learning opportunity. He incorporates the Japanese concept of ma—the unfilled space between body and garment—to express joy and freedom. The runway show featured choreographed movement, highlighting how garments interact with air and surroundings. Kondo balances the house's legacy of innovations like A-POC and pleating by using these tools to reflect contemporary times. Sustainability is addressed through the philosophy of 'make no excess,' working closely with long-term partners to minimize waste and develop sustainable materials. Kondo, raised in Kyoto by a sewing teacher mother, learned to integrate ma into clothing from Issey Miyake himself. The collection aims to redefine the relationship between body and garment, promoting fluidity and freedom beyond conventions.