Ahluwalia SS26: Affinity — Love in All Its Forms

At London Fashion Week, Ahluwalia unveiled its SS26 collection, Affinity, a poetic exploration of love in its many expressions, tender, turbulent, intimate, and grand. Designer Priya Ahluwalia reflected on how love transcends cultures and generations, lifting us to euphoric heights while grounding us in its rawest truths. The collection carried a sense of renewal and restoration, offering a fresh, invigorating lens on one of humanity’s most universal experiences.

Fashion on the runway mirrored this duality. Bold prints mixed with fluid tailoring, while structured silhouettes softened through flowing fabrics, capturing both the strength and vulnerability of love. Vibrant hues echoed joy and celebration, while darker tones suggested heartbreak and intensity. Together, the pieces formed a visual dialogue of contrasts, harmony and dissonance, intimacy and spectacle, ultimately creating a collection that felt deeply personal yet universally resonant.

The beauty direction reinforced this narrative. Cos Sakkas, TONI&GUY Global Creative Director and British Hairdresser of the Year, designed sleek buns accented with three precise hair strips, symbolizing joy, heartbreak, and the wrenching knot of love. The polished bun structure spoke to love’s strength and solidarity, balancing elegance with emotional depth. Backstage, the label.m Fashion Edition Heat Protection Mist played a hero role, ensuring each sculpted look stayed flawless under the runway lights.

With Affinity, Ahluwalia once again proved her ability to weave cultural storytelling with cutting-edge design, reminding us that fashion, like love, is most powerful when it’s both intimate and shared.