Adidas Originals and Simone Rocha Unveil Hybrid Vision For Autumn/Winter 2026

On 22 February 2026 at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in North London, Adidas Originals and Irish designer Simone Rocha formally introduced their first collaborative collection, marking a significant moment in the ongoing dialogue between sportswear and contemporary fashion.  

Adidas Originals x Simone Rocha Autumn/Winter 2026 runway. Courtesy of Adidas Originals. 

Presented during Rocha’s Autumn/Winter 2026 runway show, the partnership brings together women’s apparel, footwear, accessories, and jewellery in a collection defined by hybridisation, reinterpretation, and a nuanced balance between athletic functionality and romantic design. 

This collaboration to me was exceptionally well executed, embodying a refined sense of athletic elegance while preserving Rocha’s distinctive feminine identity. The fusion of sportswear legacy and romantic design codes creates a powerful dialogue between performance and artistry, allowing the heritage of Adidas to elevate and frame Rocha’s vision in a way that feels both authentic and modern. Streamlined leotards and classic track tops appear alongside elements traditionally associated with Rocha’s practice, including tulle, lace, and decorative embellishment. This collaboration creates pieces that do not sit in just one lane, not fully sport and not just decorative either, but somewhere in between. 

Silhouettes reflect this dialogue. Athletic staples are softened and reshaped, while delicate materials acquire structure and purpose through their integration into performance-inspired forms. The result is a cohesive wardrobe that moves fluidly between sport and ceremony, performance and introspection. The collection’s layered construction and careful detailing underscore Rocha’s continued exploration of identity, femininity, and strength, while simultaneously reaffirming the enduring cultural influence of Adidas Originals. 

Adidas Originals x Simone Rocha Autumn/Winter 2026 runway. Courtesy of Adidas Originals. 

Accessories and jewelry further develop the collaborative narrative, extending Rocha’s romantic codes into new contexts. This helped the appearance to feel more real and relatable. By incorporating purpose, attitude, and personality into each fit, they demonstrate that accessories are not only useful but also play a significant role in identity expression. 

Footwear, likewise, reflects the shared ethos of both collaborators, blending recognisable sporting foundations to help enhance the overall look. 

Behind the scenes, the collaboration was shaped by a close creative exchange between the Adidas Originals design team and Rocha’s London studio. Development focused on balancing technical precision with artisanal detail, ensuring that performance-informed construction did not compromise the delicacy synonymous with Rocha’s work. Fabrics were tested, silhouettes recalibrated, and proportions refined to achieve a seamless integration of sport and romanticism.

This meticulous process underscores the seriousness of the partnership, elevating it beyond surface-level co-branding into a genuine design dialogue. 

The runway presentation itself reinforced this narrative of convergence. Set against a restrained backdrop that allowed the garments to command attention, the collection unfolded with deliberate pacing, highlighting the contrast between sculptural sportswear and ethereal layering. The interplay of movement was particularly striking: structured track jackets framed drifting tulle skirts, while streamlined athletic silhouettes acquired new emotional depth through embellishment and texture. The staging emphasised the collection’s central thesis — that strength and softness are not opposing forces, but coexisting expressions of contemporary femininity. 

Ultimately, the Autumn/Winter 2026 collaboration stands as a compelling synthesis of heritage and innovation. By merging the technical clarity of athletic apparel with the emotional and aesthetic depth of Rocha’s design language, Adidas Originals and Simone Rocha have produced a collection that transcends conventional categorisation, offering a refined and forward-looking perspective on modern womenswear. 

Images courtesy of Adidas Originals