Marques’Almeida Collection Revives Mid-2010s Aesthetic
The Marques’Almeida Fall 2026 ready-to-wear collection is reviving stylistic elements from the mid-2010s, including embellished denim, bold colors, and bomber jackets. The collection presents a more refined and wearable take on the era's trends, signaling a move toward "refined nostalgia" in fashion.
- Portuguese founders Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida launched their London-based label in 2011 after meeting at Central Saint Martins and gaining experience at Vivienne Westwood and Preen. The brand is credited with pioneering the revival of distressed and raw-hem denim in the early-to-mid 2010s. - The design duo's signature "raw finish" aesthetic, characterized by frayed edges and deconstruction, is a deliberate technique to question traditional luxury and imbue garments with a sense of character and individuality. - In 2015, Marques'Almeida won the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, which included a €300,000 grant and a year of mentorship from the luxury conglomerate's executives. This award provided the capital and guidance to expand into more opulent fabrics like brocades and lace. - The brand beat out a notable group of finalists for the 2015 LVMH Prize, including Virgil Abloh of Off-White and Demna Gvasalia of Vetements, cementing its influential status early on. - A core part of the brand's philosophy is building a community, referred to as "M'A girls," who directly inspire the collections and often feature in shows through open casting calls. - While renowned for denim, the founders' focus has always been on high-end womenswear, treating denim as a luxury fabric and not including a simple pair of jeans in a collection until 2015.
