At Berlin Fashion Week, we saw the new Spring/Summer 2026 collection from Sia Arnika, aptly titled “Summer Time Sadness.” This season, the label delves into a fascinating duality, exploring the theme of children aspiring to emulate adults, contrasted with adults yearning for the simplicity of childhood as a nostalgic escape.
@berlinfashionwe
@fashioncouncilgermany
Words by Marcel Schlutt and Nico Sutor
All photos by Boris Marberg for #bfw
The collection was showcased in a striking warehouse setting, complete with a sleek stretch limo adding a dash of glamour. The designs evoke the bittersweet essence of summer nights—those moments that feel both endless and fleeting. Drawing from her childhood and the reflections of Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgård, the designer presents garments crafted from ethereal, sometimes daringly sheer fabrics, featuring silhouettes that are deliberately tight and intriguingly structured.
It-Girl à la Sia Arnika
What emerges is a wardrobe that teeters on the edge of nostalgia, prioritising emotion over practicality. Sia Arnika, a Danish label now calling Berlin home, explores the intersection of hybrid designs and experimental norms. The collection stands at the crossroads of minimalism and maximalism, showcasing a soulful blend of craftsmanship that marries Nordic roots with Berlin’s vibrant cultural pulse.
Challenging the status quo, the collection beautifully balances wearability with modern aesthetics, deftly navigating the complexities of raw femininity and utilitarian design. It embraces the tension between the organic and the synthetic, tradition and rebellion, creating pieces that thrive in the in-between.
