The KENNETH IZE Fall/Winter 2026 collection, JOY, begins not with celebration, but with a difficult question: What have we done wrong? The collection is born from a moment of global fragmentation and introspection. In response, it seeks to redefine joy not as a simple feeling, but as a complex emotion that is felt internally and expressed outwardly through design.

Collaboration is the central method. The collection was built through countless exchanges with artists and friends, including James Tennessee Braindt, Rodney Patterson, and KK Obi. The designer describes absorbing their dialogues and weaving them directly into the textiles. The clothes become a language from shared experience and meaning.

The materials tell a story of travel and connection. Traditional fabrics like aso oke are intertwined with velvet, wool, and denim. These are materials often linked to warmth and protection. Here, they are used to blur the line between the interior self and the outside world. The garments feel lived in and tactile, expressing vulnerability. What is usually kept hidden is brought to the surface, reflecting inner beauty and emotional tension.

Check out the collection presented at INTERVENTION V during Berlin Fashion Week: