Mark Fast’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, unveiled at London Fashion Week, unfolded as both a meditation on nature and a celebration of technical mastery. Rooted in memories of Canada’s rugged coasts and the Welsh countryside, the designer translated the ebb and flow of tides into the rhythmic hum of his knitting machines, where beauty emerges from chaos much like sea glass transformed by the ocean’s hand.

The collection anchored itself in Fast’s signature knitwear, yet with a renewed precision. Hand-crocheted skirts, bralettes, and dresses were rendered in stronger yarns, producing a tighter, sculpted fit that clung to the body with confidence. His seamless tubular technique united each piece, creating a fluid architecture that felt both sensual and wearable, a testament to the tension between innovation and intimacy.

Around this core, Fast built a world of contrasts. Velour separates and diaphanous slip-dresses appeared in soft, ocean-washed tones, evoking coastal serenity, while black ruffled blouses and gothic lace injected a moodier edge, revisiting the grunge undercurrents of his past work. Washed denim, inspired by a scrap of salt-bleached fabric found on a beach walk, brought spontaneity and raw texture to the mix, a reminder of nature’s unpredictability woven into the story.

Fast’s vision extends beyond the runway, with ambitions to bring his high-craft knits to a wider audience. Yet he acknowledges the paradox of scaling garments so deeply rooted in labor and care, admitting that handwork may remain central to his practice for years to come.

The Spring/Summer 2026 collection ultimately read as a manifesto of transformation knits that mirror the alchemy of the natural world, shaped by tide, wind, and time, but made resolutely modern through Fast’s technical ingenuity. It was both poetic and pragmatic, an ode to craftsmanship that refuses to compromise on beauty.