In a season dominated by spectacle and noise, Etro chose stillness—and in doing so, spoke volumes. For Spring/Summer 2026, the Italian house invited guests into its Milan headquarters rather than a conventional runway, offering an experience steeped in reflection, intimacy, and artisanal reverence. It was less a show, more a meditation—a graceful reaffirmation of the house’s roots, proving that evolution doesn’t always require reinvention.

The collection opened not with flashing lights or booming sound, but with the soft, intentional rhythm of creation: Italian street artist Lucamaleonte painting a live mural against Etro’s iconic paisley. As birds and flowers bloomed across the canvas, the metaphor became clear—Etro is not changing course, but blooming anew from the rich soil of its own legacy.

Departing from recent coed presentations, this season focused solely on menswear, allowing a deeper, more focused dialogue. Here, familiar codes were not discarded, but reinterpreted with grace. The ornamental border of a vintage pochette became trim on a crisp ivory zippered jacket. Groovy 1970s psychedelia returned in flowing silk shirts—expressions of freedom and bohemian heritage that felt timeless rather than retro.

The legendary paisley was omnipresent, not only as a print but as an integrated texture—woven into knitted polos, embroidered discreetly on cargo trousers, or gently embossed into soft tailoring. Even traditional menswear patterns like pinstripes and checks were filtered through Etro’s unique lens, offering grounding structure amid the romanticism.

What stood out most was the tactile sensibility—the collection invited not just admiration, but a desire to feel. Tonal embroideries added depth to minimal silhouettes. The palette, too, softened the edges: powder pinks, sage greens, periwinkles, and pale blues evoked serenity and ease, challenging outdated definitions of masculinity.

This introspective tone extended into the most intimate of garments—silken robe coats, printed pajama sets, and breezy layers that whispered of luxury rather than announcing it. These pieces were a love letter to Etro’s heritage in textiles and home collections, blurring the boundary between clothing and comfort, elegance and ease.

Etro’s SS26 menswear collection didn’t seek to outpace the future. Instead, it paused, looked inward, and found strength in its own story. In an era obsessed with reinvention, this collection dared to stand still—and in doing so, moved us.