In fashion, as in life, nothing remains constant it is a perpetual wave of endings and beginnings, falls and triumphs. After a somewhat muted fashion week in New York and the fresh burst of London energy, all eyes turned to the heart of Italian style Milan. It was there that Glenn Martens, creative director of Diesel, unveiled the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, proving that fashion in the twenty first century can be much more than a spectacle for the select few.
Diesel staged an event in Milan that broke free from the confines of a traditional show Egg Hunt. The city was transformed into a living fashion laboratory, with monumental transparent eggs scattered across the streets, each concealing Diesel’s latest looks. The audience was no longer just passive observers armed with digital maps, they embarked on an adrenaline fueled journey, solving fashion riddles and hunting down prizes ranging from head to toe denim looks to the coveted 1DR Dome bag. Piazza Beccaria became the beating heart of the event, where fashion collided with live music and a vibrant street festival atmosphere. Glenn Martens put it plainly fashion is for people. Diesel is for people.
Staying true to his philosophy of fashion democratization, Martens delivered a collection that walks the line between deconstruction and futuristic fantasy. Denim, the brand’s long standing DNA, appeared in a completely new guise jacquard dresses with a satin sheen, crafted from recycled polyester. Motorcycle aesthetics were reimagined as sensual sleeveless dresses, while jackets resembled protective yet seductive armors. As for color bold, saturated, nearly neon tones that felt ripped from an alternate reality.
Leather was also present, but not in its conventional form. Martens introduced experimental digital prints creating animal skins that never existed. Trompe l’oeil knitwear toyed with perception, suggesting unfinished constructions teetering on the edge of collapse. Alongside them floated chiffon dresses with frayed details, as if lifted from a surreal haute couture dream.
Experiments with shape and texture formed another cornerstone of the collection garments turned inside out, twisted jerseys, taffetas, and technical fabrics that rippled with movement. Utility fused with irony multi pocket coats and trousers exposed their innermost layers like secrets Diesel decided to reveal to the world.
No Diesel collection would be complete without accessories, which this season bordered on the theatrical. The new Load D bag, shaped into the letter D, brushed against decadence, while denim D Pods resembled soft sculptures. Updated Flag D designs proved that leather detailing can be as rebellious as denim itself. Footwear with metallic tips and hovering Diesel Ds danced between the real and the cartoonish. Skeleton and spine inspired jewelry further showcased Diesel’s knack for blurring the line between playfulness and gravity.
What set Diesel SS26 apart from hundreds of other Milan shows was the fact that its entire narrative spilled far beyond the runway. Egg Hunt was not simply an interactive performance it was a manifesto. Diesel boldly invited passersby, tourists, and brand devotees into a game where the prize was not only clothing but the shared experience of breaking into the world of fashion without barriers.
Martens proved that fashion can be democratic and inclusive while still remaining eccentric and artistic. Milan became a game board, every corner of the city a stage. Diesel SS26 showed that the future of fashion weeks lies not in isolated shows behind velvet ropes but in cities that breathe, live, and play with us.
In a world where fashion is often described as a luxury of distance, Diesel reminded us that it can also be joyful chaos, a collective adventure, and an experience open to everyone. SS26 is not just a collection. It is a revolution disguised as an egg hunt that made Milan shine a new.
Photos courtesy of Diesel
