For Autumn–Winter 2026–27, Walter Van Beirendonck presents Scare the Crow / Scarecrow, a deeply personal and strikingly political collection that stands at the intersection of innocence and confrontation, fragility and force, memory and youth.
Long positioning himself as an outsider within the fashion industry, Van Beirendonck embraces this distance as a place of clarity and freedom. This season, he reconnects with his enduring fascination for Art Brut and Outsider Art, drawing profound inspiration from the work of André Robillard an artist who spent much of his life in psychiatric institutions, crafting sculptural weapons from scrap materials. The urgency, raw honesty and disregard for convention embedded in Robillard’s work resonate deeply with Van Beirendonck’s creative language WVB AW 2026-27 PERSTEKST DEF.
At the heart of the collection lies a reflection on childhood on that unfiltered state of being where emotions instinctively transform into drawings, words, objects and garments. Before self-consciousness, before rules. Youth, in its purest form, is portrayed as hope and raw energy, something the designer seeks to preserve and protect at all costs.
Scare the Crow / Scarecrow unfolds through a deliberate vocabulary of contradiction. Plastic weaponry is softened by flowers; 3D birds coexist with guns and blooms. These elements are detachable and reconfigurable, allowing garments to evolve and shift, mirroring the fluid identity of contemporary youth. References to war carpets textile witnesses of conflict and memory are reinterpreted through knitted patterns, while tape becomes both material and marker, symbolizing repair, fragility and survival.
The notion of protection runs strongly throughout the collection. Inspired by the covers used to shield sculptures, furniture and treasured objects, Van Beirendonck transforms these protective layers into garments themselves. Bodies move beneath them—hidden yet revealed. Utilitarian smocks trace the silhouettes of EASTPAK backpacks, marking a powerful collaboration rooted in function and subcultural heritage.
Technically, refined tailoring meets innovative materials. British wool is paired with nylon and plastic, balancing tradition with futurism. The colour palette is more restrained than in previous seasons, favouring tonal continuity and intention over clash yet always allowing space for bold personal combinations. Modular sleeves, adjustable belts and transformable volumes reinforce the collection’s adaptability and playfulness. T-shirts form the foundation of the wardrobe, carrying messages that feel both direct and disarming, such as: “HI THERE, ARE YOU FR?”
Beyond aesthetics, the collection delivers a clear statement. In an era quick to dismiss new generations, Van Beirendonck asserts that youth holds the truth—even when the world attempts to silence it. The return of the iconic Puk Puk motif serves as a signal to long-time followers: resilience remains, and the journey continues.
The title Scarecrow encapsulates the spirit of the collection. The scarecrow stands alone, assembled from whatever materials are available, attempting to resemble a human figure. It becomes a metaphor for today’s youth unlabeled, assembled, resilient at a time when traditional subcultures have dissolved. These are the Scarecrows of 2026: a generation that must be named, seen and remembered before it fades into anonymity WVB AW 2026-27 PERSTEKST DEF.
With Scare the Crow / Scarecrow, Walter Van Beirendonck delivers a powerful and emotionally charged collection, where fashion transcends clothing to become a language of resistance, memory and hope an unfiltered tribute to youth in its most honest form.
Credits
Make-up: Jenneke Croubels & Team
Hair: Charlie Le Mindu & Team
Music: Hantrax
Collaboration: EASTPAK
Hats: Stephen Jones
Sunglasses: Komono
Latex: Linda Van Wel
3D Prints: Anti-Static
