What Went Down at Paris Fashion Week Men’s SS26
On the fashion calendar, June means one thing: Paris Fashion Week. From June 24–29, the SS26 season brought the city to life with more zest than a sip of French 75, with designers, collaborators, creatives, and the sartorially obsessed all turning out. The hectic six days comprised a packed schedule of runway shows, exhibitions, buzzing community events and surprise sneaker restocks – and the SF team were on the ground to capture every moment. Scroll on for everything that went down.
Sneakers and Shows
Spring/Summer came through as a particularly flavoursome season on the sneaker front, with runway moments that kept the energy high across the board. The made noise once again, while label AWGE delivered an audacious new take on the . From the to J.L-A.L’s latest collaboration with the , and , there was certainly no shortage of heat-worthy silhouettes. Here's our wrap of the biggest moments.
Willy Chavarria x adidas
SS26 collection was nothing short of outstanding. Striking, original and totally unapologetic, the seasonal presentation marked the debut of three new collaborative models with : the , Megaride AG XL, and the Chavarria , each merging performance-informed design with the Mexican-American’s signature emotional depth and drama. From moulded rose shell toes to premium mesh builds and reflective hits, the details felt intentional, elevated and rooted in the designer’s identity. Additionally, the appearance of the LA Clippers' James Harden on the runway only furthered the catwalk's vibes, bringing even more visibility to a partnership that has grown authentically over time.
Y-3
On Saturday, returned with a laser-beam focus on footwear, bringing together performance and heritage. Presented over a theatrical three-act runway, the show included the RC6 speed runner, featuring an asymmetric eyestay and raw-cut details. The was transformed into a low-profile ballerina slipper, tying into the collection ’s dance-inspired dynamic. Meanwhile, the Field silhouette paid tribute to Y-3’s football lineage, drawing from archival walkable football cleats to salute the brand’s history on and off the pitch. The sneakers took centre stage alongside choreography from celebrated Puerto Rican auteur Kiani del Valle, whose respected direction brought the performance to life.
Dior
Jonathan Anderson has quietly but confidently reshaped the way Loewe approaches footwear, most notably through a growing concentration on sneaker design. He has concocted a string of styles featuring sculptural soles and sport-informed silhouettes, leaning late in his tenure towards the language of movement and modernity. Anderson's most recent appointment at , and the remaking of the label's subsequent sneaker presence during PFW, only sharpened this emphasis; it offered a reminder that Anderson’s take on the ‘sneaker’ has evolved into a key expression of his design language.
Junya Watanabe x New Balance
and cranked proceedings on Friday with the TF100 a chunky, curved sneaker that follows last season’s 471. The TF100 features a crisp white colourway anchored by a FuelCell midsole and a bold, sculptural silhouette. Arriving alongside Watanabe’s signature sleek formalwear and rebellious tailoring, the colab served as a very lucid reflection of the duo's evolving creative partnership, blending technical innovation with avant-garde fashion.
AURALEE x New Balance
, a name well-known in the sphere for their New Balance colabs, closed out SS26 opening night affairs. Over the years the brand have taken their proverbial paintbrush to silhouettes like the , , and most recently the . Not the type to rest on their laurels, the Tokyo creatives are gearing up to reimagine the , a model that’s fairly new to the NB catalogue but is already getting fresh takes from and .
Kiko Kostadinov x ASICS
Longtime collaborator , who first partnered with the Japanese brand in 2018 on the groundbreaking GEL-Burz 1, returned for PFW SS26 on Saturday. He lifted the cloche on a four-piece tabi collection that felt both masterfully fresh and faithfully rooted in history. Channeling the Japanese brand’s retro marathon heritage – specifically a 60s ASICS model, which inspired the shoe’s branding – the London-residing designer paired the footwear with signature apparel in a show whose narrative traced the working day of a fictional town.
Issey Miyake x ASICS
ASICS found another home on the runway this season – this time with pleats pioneer . Dubbed the ‘Issey Miyake Foot’, this ongoing project looked to the late designer’s vision of clothing as a simple piece of cloth, paired with ASICS’ technical expertise. Arriving in black, grey and ‘Lime Green’, the result is ‘HYPER TAPING’, a fresh take on the brand’s signature stripes reimagined as supportive taping that wraps the foot, unifying performance and design into a seamless new silhouette.
VIA: @le.syndrome
Wales Bonner x adidas
The partnership between highly acclaimed South London designer and the Three Stripes stayed staunch for SS26, hitting the runway to reveal a new sneaker jointly created with Y-3 along with various interpretations of the Indoor, Country and Adios. The undisputed highlight was the designer’s take on the Field Shoe, which initially released in 2003. Presented in two colourways, the model rolled up with mismatched Three Stripes on the midfoot, a long tongue garbed with Y-3 logos, and extra stitching details reminiscent of Bonner’s .
Off-Runway Drops
The energy off the main stage hit its zenith a number of times across the week, including female-led sneaker store 's bringback of its sought-after . Minimalist mastermind (hit for the backstory and our interview), with rounding out the latest batch via a pop-up.
There were were plenty more anvil-heavy drops from some of the SF fam's favourite brands – check out a few of them below.
Joe Freshgoods x New Balance ABZORB 2000
While some things in life aren’t always guaranteed, you can bet that New Balance and will always pull through during Paris Fashion Week. Just seven days after the , Joe let spill a – capped at only 500 pairs. Hitting the streets just before the madness began, the Chicago-born creative announced the drop with a cryptic message on social media, sparking immediate hype. Predictably, plenty of pairs were spotted on-foot throughout the week – well-placed buzz made manifest.
adidas Adistar Jellyfish
Taking a leaf out of JFG’s book, multi-hyphenate – fresh from his menswear reveal – reached into a rockpool and pulled out the sneaker in Paris, pairing its bold, oversized design with packaging impossible to ignore.
Air Jordan 1 'Shattered Blackboard' 2025 Launch @ Opium, Paris
Sneaker store brought the heat with an exclusive, early-access drop that fused heritage with hometown energy. The 'Shattered Backboard' and women’s 'Starfish' both landed early, but the spotlight stayed local with a limited-edition colab alongside Allan Guenaoui (founder of ) and the debut of his latest capsule. To top it off, every AJ1 'Shattered Backboard' pair came with a co-designed tee, courtesy of Opium and Family Huncho. It was a proper Paris moment, soundtracked by Guenaoui and DJ ahead of the main release.
BEAMS x adidas Superstar and Archive Space
Sneaker Freaker scored an early look at the x during Paris Fashion Week, where a rare shell toe update gently stole the spotlight. BEAMS embossed their name along the iconic shell toe in a subtle tone-on-tone finish, a fresh yet respectful twist on the classic silhouette. Additionally, the Three Stripes also hosted an appointment-only space, offering visitors the chance to explore upcoming projects and experience new innovations firsthand. Archivists from adidas mingled with attending 'heads to share insights on how the brand’s rich heritage continues to influence modern design, bridging the past with the future.
Sneakersnstuff x PUMA Speedcat
Getting in on the Speedcat action, launched a patent leather version of the Big Cat’s racing sneaker in the heart of the city's 2nd arrondissement. The model featured shiny overlays, uniquely designed eyelets, a molded patent Formstrip and gunmetal aglets, resulting in a high-shine throwback to an everyday-ready silhouette. The whole occasion was elevated by the bringing together of community, reinforcing the shared passion of the sneakerspace.
Community Events
While the sneakers sauntered the runway, the real pulse of Paris was thronging across its streets – vibrant events and galvanising community gatherings kept the energy alive well beyond the shows. From Fête de la Musique takeover to Soapbox’s 50/50 book launch, the community came alive with unforgettable moments and connections.
Patta Fête de la Musique Takeover
Setting the stage for what would be a stacked week, Patta, and British music gear company Marshall took over for Fête de la Musique, turning up the volume on the streets and the soul of the City of Light. Beats bounced off buildings' facades, animating a crowd clearly intent on keeping the energy rippling all day long, and further fuelled by the Dutch label's live radio broadcast with Oroko. Exclusive Patta x Awake NY x Marshall x Chop Chop merch also made waves across the city, producing a ton of chatter and turning plenty of heads.
adidas Consortium exhibition
Thursday night was bursting with events that kept the streets lit and vibrating. Marking 20 years of the Consortium crew, adidas hosted an exclusive pop-up exhibition at , curated by Sarah Andelman – cultural consultant, creative director, and founder of the pioneering former Parisian retailer . Inside, the exhibition floodlit a cornucopia of partners including , , , Carnival, Casina, colette, , , , , , , , , , , , , and .
PUMA x Salehe Bembury Velum Sneaker Event
This season, PUMA returned to Paris with a manifesto rooted in innovation. In collaboration with , the Big Cat introduced the sneaker, a low-profile silhouette powered by performance tech and designed for energetic modern living. The launch came to life through a public installation, where guests stepped into a biomorphic world inspired by the shoe’s textures and design language. To top it off, Bembury was there in person, guiding visitors through the futuristic space before PUMA quietly pre-released 100 pairs to the public. For more on the project’s evolution and Bembury’s approach to movement, materials, and the unknown,
Faith Kipyegon vs the 4-Minute Mile
On the night of June 26, no one was seeking decorous runways and sotto voce conversation – all eyes were glued to the track of Stade Charléty as Faith Kipyegon made her record-breaking mile attempt as part of Nike’s . In front of a crowd more accustomed to fashion statements than finish-line splits, three-time Olympic champion Kipyegon delivered a performance that blurred the lines between sport and spectacle. Her time – 4:06.42 – didn’t dip under the elusive four-minute mark, but it by 1.22 seconds. To complete the run, the athlete took to the track in a pair of custom Victory Elite FK spikes, created by the Nike in-house design team.
Jordan Brand x Pac18 Tournament
closed out the penultimate day of Fashion Week with their annual Pac18 event: a high-energy street football tournament that’s become a cherished fixture in the Paris calendar. Set in the heart of the 18th arrondissement, the event once again brought together a range of youth teams from across the city for a day of fast-paced matches, music and movement. With all stripes of community showing up strong, the energy was all joy and unity – this was Paris at its best, with a crowd that kept the tempo high from kick-off to final whistle.
Paris 50/50 by @soaptwo
Winding down the week, brought key members of the community and industry together to shoot the moments that made the memories. Captured on Polaroid by nine contributors and commemorated at Big Shot Coffee, the book launch solidified connections and froze the truest parts of Paris in time: raw, unfiltered and full of feeling.
From The Sole
Shot across the seven days, continued its mission of capturing the people, stories and subcultures that shape sneaker culture from the ground up. Its latest chapter brought together key figures from around the globe – faces who’ve helped move footwear past hype, and who are focused on identity, community, and legacy. With sneakers very much at the centre of the conversation, Paris presented the perfect stage to document how these figures connect fashion and street culture on a worldwide scale. Find out more about the project .