Hed Mayner SS26: A Sublime Invocation

By Mark Benjamin

During Men's Paris Fashion Week, one show stood out: Hed Mayner's highly anticipated Spring/Summer 2026 collection. The Australian designer delivered bold, provocative, and captivating garments that challenged conventional notions of fashion. Described as "towards something almost anti-construction," Mayner's design approach is marked by its intensity and velocity. His latest collection extends further from the monumental structures of yesteryear, embracing instead lightness and softness that permeates this remarkable collection.

Hed Mayner's designs often appear delicate and ephemeral yet possess a resilience that stems from their fragility. Flowy silhouettes evoke a carefree sense of youth, with flared hemlines and padded pants recalling playful childhood moments. One moment, Mayner is paying homage to 1950s couture; the next, he plunges into avant-garde territory.

Hed Mayner Spring/Summer 2026: Looks 11, 12 (Images courtesy of Hed Mayner)

Throughout the collection, an obsession with removing clothes from their structure allows them to ripple and flow in gravity-defying forms. Knitwear point-stitched onto foam creates a textural dialogue between softness and hardness. Luxurious materials – chunky hand-wool, soft cottons, and sumptuous silks – add depth and permanence to his designs. This combination yields four provocative points: boldness, innovation, playfulness, and above all, warmth and humanity.

This is Hed Mayner at his best: bold, innovative, and possessing a vision that defies convention. As we departed the show, we reflected on how he challenges our understanding of what it means to be bold in fashion beyond spectacle. With a sense of softness underlying his designs, an ethereal impact emerges: an unforgettable response from an Australian designer who isn't afraid to push boundaries or challenge expectations.

Hed Mayner Spring/Summer 2026: Looks 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33 (Images courtesy of Hed Mayner)