At Paris Fashion Week, Ottolinger brought a captivating blend of artistry and attitude with their FW26 collection titled “Female Fools”. Drawing inspiration from the provocative spirit of artist Isa Genzken, who unapologetically refers to herself as “The Only Female Fool”, this collection revels in the dynamic tension of seriousness and eccentricity that permeates her work.
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All backstage photos by Marta Holden @acedi4
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Beneath the shimmering lights of the runway, the collection champions the modern woman—fearless, outspoken, and defiantly authentic. The soundscape for the show, beautifully crafted by Lola Leon and Erwan Sene, added an intoxicating auditory layer, with Leon herself gracing the front row as an esteemed guest.
Outerwear takes centre stage this season, introducing leather into Ottolinger’s repertoire. The collection showcases sculptural scuba pieces alongside their iconic faux fur, seamlessly merging high fashion with streetwear sensibilities. Worn Nike sneakers evoke a sense of movement and lived experiences, while the debut of the unreleased Nike Mirage—a bold fusion of a football boot and Oxford shoe- presents an unexpected silhouette that challenges conventionality.
In a remarkable collaboration with Swiss technical brand Mammut, Ottolinger transcends the boundaries of fashion by intertwining performance wear with urban flair, crafting pieces designed for those who move through life instinctively and passionately.
Capturing the essence of this electrifying event, photographer Marta Holden ventured backstage, immortalising intimate moments of creativity and camaraderie through her lens, all with the artistry of Fujifilm. Her work provides an insider’s glimpse into the heart of the show, where vulnerability and strength coexist, resonating with the collection’s core ethos.
Ottolinger was founded in 2016 by Swiss designers Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient. Based in Berlin, the research & design studio Ottolinger Agency and its label are built on a logic where production happens through transformation and intervention, and ‘raw materials’ are often existing conditions and forms.
Attentive to both the technical and emotional dimensions of clothing, Ottolinger has become known for its distinctive language of modern construction: garments morph, bodies flex, nothing is static; pieces adapt as real life unfolds. The studio creates through de- and reconstruction, intuitively combining industrial methods with exacting couture-level craftsmanship to produce outcomes that are at once raw and refined.
