Ottolinger SS26 Celebrated Girlfriends Everywhere
A tribute to the power of female connections, partnering with Tinder and eBay.
Female friendship, strength and creativity were the central themes of Ottolinger’s Spring/Summer 2026 show, titled “Girlfriend.” A tribute to the power of these connections, the show explored how women uplift and challenge each other and turned these gestures into fashion.
Ottolinger makes all the aspects of friendship visible, the resilience, the tested trust and the strength born from vulnerability, reshaping these into sharp edges, straps and plenty of mesh. The familiar use of leather, sheers and fraying were mainstays throughout the collection, alongside fresh takes such as reimagined wedding dresses stripped of tradition. The dresses transformed into symbols of freedom and connection through asymmetric ruffles and were paired simply with a black T-shirt or barely-there sheer top.
View this post on Instagram
Paisley, gingham and overdyed silks added a punk edge while stop-motion films of dolls played in the background, taking the story beyond the runway. The collection brought an edgier, perhaps less romanticized version of girlhood that seems to be a current fascination this season. Instead of bows and pinks, there were distressed graphic tees and paisley tights.
Collaboration was a central aspect of the collection, manifesting in partnerships with both Tinder and eBay. With Tinder, Ottolinger launched Re/Pair, a capsule of T-shirts and a two-piece necklace that only reveals its meaning once worn together. Alongside this, reworked garments donated by duo Kicki Yang Zhang and Lin Lin were featured on the runway and will later be auctioned with proceeds supporting Lambda. Tinder will also donate €10,000 to the NGO to further LGBTQ+ rights and youth empowerment. With eBay, the brand explored the importance of sustainability through using pre-loved garments and reworked materials.
View this post on Instagram
“Girlfriend” is the ultimate exploration of all aspects of female friendship, capturing the feelings and putting them into clothes. Creative directors Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient’s connection sits at the centre of their creations, honest and tough with plenty of feeling.
Take a look at some of the collection above and check out our favorite shows from Paris Fashion Week.
