Ronald van der Kemp presented his Fall 2026 Couture collection yesterday in a gallery on the edge of the Marais district. The show spilled onto the sidewalk along rue des Tournelles, allowing passersby to view the designs. The designer focused on making couture more accessible to everyday audiences.
The designer explained his approach backstage. “I think couture has gotten out of control; it’s all, you know, for museums. But I think it used to be inspiring for people in the street, so I did a lot of casual things.”
He reworked denim pieces with intricate cut-outs, patches, shredding, and embroidery. Artistic references appeared throughout, including nods to Jean Dubuffet and Claude Monet. A repurposed floral lace dress previously worn by Kendall Jenner was included in the lineup.
Maayan Licht performed an extract from Henry Purcell’s “When I am Laid in Earth” during the show. The final look featured an embroidered textile originally intended for Josephine Baker’s 1968 Revue at the Olympia in Paris.