a return to roots: Hul le Kes’ AW 26

With AW26, Hul le Kes returns to its Dutch roots to explore a present-day interpretation of modernism; clear, functional, expressive, and deeply human. This collection pays homage to influential artists such as Piet Mondrian, Bart van der Leck, Theo van Doesburg, Gerrit Rietveld, Jan Schoonhoven, and Carel Visser. Artists who spoke in colour, line, and rhythm, creating harmony amid contrast.

In a world once again marked by uncertainty and tension, Hul le Kes responds with silhouettes that offer protection and expression in equal measure. Geometric patchworks and sharp, layered constructions form a collection that balances urban edge with a longing for stillness and nature. From intense reds and earthy greens to primary yellows and blues, each hue is selected to speak its own truth.

The AW26 collection is made almost entirely from post-consumer materials: worn tents, Danish roadside assistance uniforms, vintage chinos, and workwear garments. These textiles carry their own histories; of labour, of use, of protection, and are now reassembled into garments with a new context and shape. The result is a wardrobe that is both familiar and renewed.

“All these pieces carry something with them,” says creative director Sjaak Hullekes. “They’ve already lived a life before they come into our studio. What we do is not about perfection, but about bringing things together in a way that makes sense for today, and what is bringing purpose to fashion.”

Rather than shouting for attention, the clothes invite a slower look. The handwork is visible, the materials honest. Each garment is carefully layered and constructed; clear in silhouette, modest in its presence, and grounded in the everyday.

Presented under the Hul le Kes Atelier label, AW26 reflects the highest expression of the brand’s ethos. Designed for all genders and produced in limited quantities, each Atelier piece is handmade in the Netherlands, combining luxurious form with circular purpose. The result is fashion that is both contemporary and timeless; designed for collectors, creators, and connoisseurs of meaning.

This collection is for those who make deliberate choices. For the collector who understands the elegance of restraint. For the gallery owner whose wardrobe is as layered as her curatorial eye. For the creative director whose clothes must speak without overstatement, yet still turn heads during a premiere. And for the entrepreneurial investor who values fashion as a reflection of inner clarity and success.