Tokyo fashion designer Junya Watanabe brought Sanderson’s iconic florals to the Paris runway in a bold SS26 menswear collaboration – proving that florals for spring can, in fact, still surprise, especially when drawn from a 165-year-old archive…
Sanderson, the revered British interiors brand celebrated for its evocative florals and storied archive, took to the Paris Fashion Week runway with an imaginative new collaboration with Tokyo-based fashion visionary Junya Watanabe, for his Spring/Summer 2026 menswear collection.
In a compelling cross-disciplinary gesture, Junya introduced three standout outerwear pieces inspired by Sanderson’s rich textile archive, kept under lock and key and located across several floors in Voysey House, Chiswick, London. The garments bring new life to two of Sanderson’s most iconic floral prints – Hollyhocks (1937) and Rose & Peony (1914) – both handpicked by the designer for their romantic maximalism and deep-rooted British heritage.
These prints, historically rendered for domestic interiors, were recoloured in striking new palettes under Junya’s creative direction. Muted vintage tones were juxtaposed with electric blues and graphic contrasts, forming a visual narrative that bridges heritage craftsmanship with forward-facing design. The result is an exciting hybrid of botanical nostalgia and contemporary edge, appealing to both fashion connoisseurs and design purists alike.
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- Junya Watanabe SS26
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- Image credits: Prêt a Porter
From Drawing Room to runway
For interior designers, this collaboration offers a fascinating lens through which to reconsider the placement and potential of historical motifs. Hollyhocks, originally a block-printed document from 1937, evokes cottage garden romance, while Rose & Peony, created in the pre-war elegance of 1914, remains a beloved print for maximalist interiors today. Both are hallmark examples of Sanderson’s distinctive layering of English naturalism with technical artistry.
The translation of these florals from the intimacy of the home to the public expression of menswear invites a re-examination of the decorative arts as wearable narrative. As pattern and print continue to trend in both fashion and interiors, this collaboration underscores the flexibility of heritage design across disciplines.
Bridging home, fashion and culture
This marks Sanderson’s second high-profile fashion collaboration in recent years, following a successful partnership with Moschino, and reflects the brand’s evolving strategy to activate its 165-year-old archive in unexpected, culturally resonant ways. As fashion increasingly turns to interior design houses for authenticity and craft, Sanderson remains a go-to source for iconic pattern, emotive storytelling, and material history.
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Main image credit: Sanderson
