This week in fashion moves between Paris and home, balancing new-season drops with wider industry conversation.
CAMILLA AND MARC’s Paris Fashion Week moment sits alongside releases from Yu Mei, RUBY and Deadly Ponies, each refining the language of everyday dressing through materiality and form.
At the same time, RMN and Naveya & Sloane look to nostalgia and sculpture respectively, while news of a potential John Galliano and Zara collaboration continues to divide opinion.
Yu Mei builds on its Leather ’26 series with Edition 02 drop
Yu Mei continues to refine the art of the everyday carry with Edition 02, the latest instalment of its Leather ’26 monthly series. Designed as foundational pieces for a modern wardrobe, the drop introduces enduring silhouettes in rich, grounded tones.
Executive styles arrive in Molasses – a deep brown that anchors everyday dressing – while cult favourites Joan and Bobby return in Sandstone suede, with Joan reimagined in suede for the first time. Crafted from New Zealand deer leather, lambskin and suede, the collection reinforces Yu Mei’s commitment to longevity and material integrity. Shot in Potts Point, the campaign features mother–daughter duo Paige and Filomena Natoli, adding a personal lens to the release.
RUBY goes all in on knitwear with Knit Shop 2026
RUBY’s Knit Shop 2026 marks a turning point for the brand, evolving from a capsule into a fully realised, knitwear-led collection. This season, knitwear moves closer to the skin, extending into base layers designed for intuitive layering – pieces that integrate seamlessly into everyday dressing.
Signature styles return with renewed energy: bold striped knits like Velma and Josie, the quietly versatile Swann Sweater with its detachable bow, and the ever-reliable Matilda. Following a summer of movement and spontaneity, Knit Shop reflects a return to rhythm – anchored in comfort, colour and wearability.
RMN taps into early-2000s nostalgia for A/W 26
RMN A/W 26 draws on the effortless romanticism of early-2000s festival dressing – where instinct, individuality and imperfection defined style. Founded by Penny Styles, the brand continues to prioritise versatility and longevity over fleeting trends.
This season balances softness with structure: silk blends and floaty silhouettes are grounded by practical outerwear, while a palette of navy, olive and muted pinks sets a distinctly moody tone. Key pieces like the Nora Polo, Sienna Mini Dress and Noel Jacket reflect a wardrobe designed for intuitive layering. The season also marks expansion, with new partnerships including Anthropologie and Australian retailer Mode Sportif.
Naveya & Sloane expands its signature Constantin design into full collection
Naveya & Sloane introduces the Constantin Collection, expanding one of its most recognisable engagement ring designs into a full suite. Inspired by modernist sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, the collection explores clarity of form through elongated bands, sculptural arches and carefully considered negative space.
Three new ring styles – from the contemporary east-west oval to the statement five-stone – build on the original design’s architectural language. The launch also reflects the brand’s continued intersection with the arts, alongside new initiatives supporting emerging New Zealand creatives.
Kiwis in Paris: CAMILLA AND MARC hosts intimate Fashion Week showing
During Paris Fashion Week, CAMILLA AND MARC opened the doors to a private residence overlooking the Tuileries, hosting an intimate cocktail evening to unveil its Fall Winter 26 collection.
Among the guest list were familiar faces for New Zealand audiences, including Kiwi model Georgia Fowler, underscoring the brand’s strong connection to local talent on an international stage. The event brought together fashion, interiors and atmosphere, with the collection presented within a curated, apartment-style setting that felt both considered and lived-in.
Adding another New Zealand layer, all imagery from the evening was captured by Kiwi photographer Rob Tennent, documenting the space, guests and collection through a distinctly Antipodean lens.
While the setting was unmistakably Parisian, the brand’s appeal continues to resonate just as strongly at home. CAMILLA AND MARC remains a go-to for New Zealand shoppers – equally at ease in Auckland wardrobes as it is in the salons of Paris.
Deadly Ponies introduces eel-embossed leather across new capsule
Deadly Ponies introduces a new tactile direction with its eel-embossed leather capsule. Crafted from calf leather and embossed to mimic eel skin, each piece is hand-stitched into panels to create subtle texture and depth.
Rendered in a rich Java tone and finished with signature brass hardware, the collection spans seven styles, including footwear — offering a refined take on statement texture.
Galliano’s reported Zara collaboration sparks industry debate
Few collaborations have sparked as much debate this week as the announcement of John Galliano’s two-year partnership with Zara.
The legendary designer – known for his tenure at Dior and Maison Margiela – will “re-author” Zara’s archives, transforming past pieces into new, couture-informed collections set to launch from September.
Positioned as a move to elevate Zara’s fashion credibility, the collaboration signals a broader industry shift toward blending high fashion authorship with mass accessibility.
But reaction has been mixed. While some see it as an exciting democratisation of design, others remain conflicted given Galliano’s controversial past and the tension between couture values and fast fashion scale.
The result? A collaboration that feels less like a straightforward drop – and more like a litmus test for where fashion, and its consumers, stand today.
