COS Presents Spring/Summer 2026 Collection with First-Ever Runway Show in South Korea

On March 25, London-based brand COS staged its first-ever runway show in South Korea, held in Seoul. Having previously presented its spring/summer collections across European cities—Rome for SS24 and Athens for SS25—the brand shifted its stage to Asia for the first time this season.

The venue chosen was a former men’s spa facility, a Brutalist structure located on the outskirts of the city. The long-abandoned pool was transformed into a runway through the addition of sculptural installations and canvas elements, creating an atmospheric stage for the collection. Defined by simplicity, material contrast, and modernist principles, the set functioned as a clean, geometric spatial intervention—ultimately redefining the very grammar of the runway. As sounds recorded from Seoul’s subway echoed through the space, evoking the memory of the city, models walked across platforms framed by structural pillars, emerging from a soft haze with a quiet sense of confidence.

A Harmony of ’80s and ’90s Nostalgia

The 40-look collection was built around a palette of slate gray, warm browns, cream, and white. Accents of blue and deep oxblood red introduced depth, creating a restrained yet richly layered visual coherence.

Material exploration stood as a central theme this season. Subtly lustrous leather and technical fabrics emphasized intentional draping, while paper-like textures introduced a tactile, crinkled quality. Sheer materials softly revealed the body on the runway, while silk appeared throughout in the form of delicately pleated pieces crafted in the atelier, off-shoulder dresses, and signature shirts.

Womenswear centered on the pared-back aesthetics of 1990s minimalism, expressing softness through delicate sheer rib-knit dresses and coordinated sets. Strong shoulder lines subtly referenced 1980s power dressing, while trompe-l’œil denim rendered in silk added a contemporary twist to tailored ensembles.

Menswear proposed a new interpretation of the modern uniform through transitional outerwear imbued with a contemporary sense of heritage, slim-cut, relaxed tailoring, and tone-on-tone styling inspired by 1980s dressing.

What the Choice of Seoul Represents

The front row included figures such as Alexander Skarsgård, Park Gyuyoung, Emma Roberts, and Ella Gross of MEOVV.

Choosing Seoul as the stage was more than a geographical shift—it embodied a convergence between COS’s minimalist design language and a deep respect for Korean fashion culture. The collection, quietly resonant, lingers in the mind long after the runway has ended.

All looks from the COS Spring/Summer 2026 collection can be viewed in the gallery below.

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