In his Spring/Summer 2026 collection, Junya Watanabe MAN once again turns to the past—not for nostalgia, but for reinvention. Inspired by the idea of “something old that feels new, or something new born from reproducing the old,” Watanabe presents a striking series of tailored looks that reimagine upholstery fabrics once used in his Fall/Winter 2004 collection.

Rich jacquards, floral tapestries, and baroque-patterned velvets—sourced or inspired by antique markets—are sculpted into sharply cut blazers and reconfigured suiting. Paired with flared acid-wash jeans, crisp white shirts, and heavy-soled shoes, these pieces blend a sense of vintage glam with modern sensibility. The silhouettes are both elegant and rebellious: lapels are pronounced, trousers flare dramatically, and layering is precise yet unfussy.

The show oscillates between rawness and refinement. Coats in classic gabardine are thrown over glimmering textiles; structured tailoring is worn bare-chested with sunglasses, hinting at a louche nonchalance. Some looks evoke the mood of 1970s rock stars, while others feel almost pastoral—filtered through a postmodern lens.

Watanabe’s approach to construction remains rooted in precision, but the spirit is freer this season. Through reinterpretation and collage, the garments tell a story of evolution rather than repetition—where the past is not preserved but reimagined. In SS26, history is not a reference point; it’s raw material.