In a bold departure from the polished sensuality of his womenswear, David Koma made his menswear debut with an unexpected twist—one that was self-aware, subversively playful, and deeply personal. Presented on July 2nd at Berlin Fashion Week SS26, the collection, aptly titled “I Love David”, marked a striking new chapter for the London-based designer. And while the title may seem cheeky, the collection carried a deeper, more artful resonance—an introspective nod to identity, legacy, and masculine beauty.

Rather than mimicking his signature aesthetic for a new gendered audience, Koma chose to reimagine it entirely. Gone were the razor-sharp, sculpted silhouettes and body-hugging fabrics his label is known for. In their place: a surprisingly textured and layered wardrobe that embraced fluidity, vanity, and joyful experimentation. The collection's anchor was not the designer himself—but the mythical ideal of Michelangelo’s David. From this classical muse, Koma built a world that invited men to dress with intention, irony, and self-awareness.

Oversized houndstooth coats, slouchy joggers, preppy varsity jackets, and resort shirts created a youthful, almost collegiate atmosphere, while loose gray suiting added structure without rigidity. In a notable twist, even the tuxedo—a staple of Koma’s precision-loving past—was deconstructed and reimagined in soft dark beige, replacing the usual black with something tender and tactile.

At the heart of the show was its conceptual irreverence. Faux-fur outerwear met distressed denim and minimalist sandals, blurring lines between extravagance and effortlessness. The result was a kind of stylish contradiction that made sense only in Koma’s evolving world—a place where fashion doesn’t conform, it converses.

The phrase “I Love David” wasn’t just a show title—it was woven into the garments themselves, most literally on graphic tees and jackets, including the one worn by Koma during his final bow. The message functioned as a triple entendre: a reference to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, a personal affirmation, and a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the egoism embedded in fashion’s cult of personality.

But beneath the humor and charm, Koma’s debut revealed something deeper: a man exploring what it means to evolve. Rather than expanding his brand by duplicating past formulas, he leaned into vulnerability, curiosity, and reinvention. He proposed a version of masculinity that is not just styled but self-reflective, not just cool but clever, not just modern but multifaceted.

In a fashion week often marked by predictability and polish, David Koma’s SS26 menswear collection felt like a breath of fresh air—deliberately imperfect, beautifully unguarded, and unmistakably sincere. It didn’t chase trends; it offered a mirror. And in it, Koma smiled back, a little tongue-in-cheek, a little in love—with David.