PAOLINA RUSSO SS26: SUBURBAN NOSTALGIA MEETS CRAFT INNOVATION

Summary:

• Collection draws from suburban childhood memories with pastoral landscapes and sports-inspired designs
• Features collaborations with Peruvian artisans and photographer Petros for hand-drawn elements
• Combines traditional crafts like hand-knitting with modern streetwear silhouettes

Paolina Russo's Spring/Summer 2026 collection transforms the brand's signature warrior princess into a suburban explorer. The London-based design duo, Paolina Russo and Lucile Guilmard, present their latest chapter through pastoral scenes and mountaintop adventures.

The collection centers on a soft color palette spanning crayon box hues to chalky marker tones. Hand-painted prints sit alongside playful sports motifs, creating what the designers describe as storybook countryside scenes. This aesthetic recalls Laura Ashley's innocent florals but adds a distinct tomboyish edge.

Sports capsule pieces receive a delicate makeover. The brand's iconic team-sports designs appear as light chiffon dresses decorated with hand-drawn flowers and sports logos. These sketchy elements emerged from collaboration with photographer Petros, whose work transforms athletic wear into artistic statements.

Cotton patchwork versions of sports jerseys draw inspiration from vintage athletic styles. A henley top paired with a smocked picnic print skirt serves as the collection's uniform for landscape traversal. The designs suggest movement and adventure while maintaining feminine details.

Traditional warrior knits evolve for warmer weather. Striped tank tops, zip cardigans, and peplum skirts appear in linen and cotton rather than the brand's typical wool constructions. These pieces offer lighter alternatives while preserving the collection's structured silhouettes.

The standout piece involves extensive handwork. A hand-knit hoodie features rainbow surfaces embroidered with heart doodles, created through partnership with female artisans at Maison Arnaychay in Peru. This collaboration highlights the brand's commitment to international craft communities.

Core Illusion knits display gradient, spray-like prints across numbered polos and patchwork babydoll tees. The sport wardrobe expands through smocked details on picnic-print tracksuits, adding rural charm to urban streetwear forms.

Photographer Meen Kyung Kim captures the collection with youthful spontaneity. The imagery recalls early internet collages created in MS Paint, establishing a digital nostalgia that complements the suburban themes.

The brand operates from their London studio, drawing on personal experiences from small suburban towns. Russo and Guilmard channel childhood boredom into creative fuel, referencing video games, local team sports, and arts and crafts as primary influences.

Their approach merges traditional handcrafts with contemporary technology. Techniques like knitwear, tie-dye, and macrame receive modern interpretations for current wardrobes spanning womenswear and streetwear categories.

Previous collaborations include partnerships with Adidas Originals, Converse, Roblox, and FabriX gaming platforms. Industry recognition includes Forbes 30 Under 30 for Arts & Culture, the inaugural Zalando Visionary Award in 2023, and finalist positions for both the LVMH Prize and International Woolmark Prize in 2023.

The brand currently operates under the Paul Smith Foundation's Residency at Smithfield Studios. This support structure allows continued exploration of community-driven design processes and textile innovation.

Russo describes their garments as uniforms for shared memories, creating symbols of connection and community bonds formed through shared experiences. The pieces function as vehicles for passing down memories while fostering belonging among wearers.

The SS26 collection continues this philosophy through rural crafts and nostalgic motifs combined with sports-inspired pieces and selective neon accents. The result presents a uniform celebrating suburban memories and girlhood connections across different backgrounds and experiences.