Designer Ashlyn Park unveiled her highly anticipated Fall 2026 Ready-to-Wear Collection during New York Fashion Week, captivating audiences with her innovative approach to fashion. Following a remarkable year where she was awarded Emerging Designer of the Year at the CFDA Awards and named the 2025 CFDA/Fashion Fund winner, Park took a step back to focus on her craft, resulting in a collection that reflects her unique vision and personal journey.
Exploring the Vernacular in Fashion
Park’s latest collection is rooted in the concept of vernacular—what is shared and common among people. She expressed this theme through her designs, merging her experiences as a Korean immigrant with her artistic perspective. The runway show commenced with a striking ensemble featuring a black and white combination over a tart citron top, signifying a bold transition in her design philosophy. The vibrant colour was complemented by softly gathered jersey fabric draped over pants, creating a harmonious balance of colour and texture.
One of the standout pieces was a double cashmere jacket with a basque back, which wrapped around the body like a calla lily. Additionally, the collection showcased a textural tweed that framed the waist with a peplum, extending gracefully down the sides of the legs. Park’s deconstructed suits advanced her signature style, appearing airy and ethereal, with exposed stitches that seemed to float effortlessly on the fabric.
Challenging Gender Norms in Design
This season, Park boldly embraced the interplay between masculine and feminine aesthetics. She introduced boyish silhouettes into curvy pants, paired with a luxe wrapped shearling jacket and a soft zip-front calfskin jacket. The classic white button-down shirt was transformed with seams that cinched the waist before flaring out over the hips, enhanced by slouchy batwing sleeves. As Park eloquently stated, “Clothing is a common object. We are not artists apart from life; we are makers within it.”
Despite her focus on the ordinary, Park’s work is anything but mundane. Her ability to blend flat pattern-making skills with three-dimensional draping creates designs that allow curves and lines to move fluidly, reminiscent of Cubist art. The show concluded with a silk-taffeta piece that was monastic in front yet sensual at the back, showcasing the collection’s most intricate textures.
The collection featured richly piled wool fringe, which, in monochrome, added an untamed quality. When paired with a “snowy” mélange boucle, the effect was dynamic and kinetic, evoking comparisons to a Jackson Pollock painting. Park’s designs reflect a delicate balance between intuition and precision, further establishing her as a visionary in contemporary fashion.
With the Fall 2026 collection, Ashlyn Park not only demonstrated her technical prowess but also conveyed a profound connection to her identity and experiences. As she continues to evolve her craft, her work resonates with a global audience, affirming her place in the future of fashion.
