Achilles Ion Gabriel is a creative force. In recent years, the designer has revived Camperlab, taking it from an experimental offshoot of the renowned Camper shoe brand into a full-fledged fashion label. In the process, he managed to debut an eponymous label too, expanding his vision further into the luxury market. He keeps pushing onwards. Now, under his leadership, Camperlab has just debuted at Paris Fashion Week. Spring/Summer 2026 marks a series of new beginnings: not only has the brand presented a complete clothing collection for the first time, but it’s also changed its logo and monogram.

The show was held in a car park on a blistering Paris day. Heat aside, inside, the venue resembled an impossible-to-get-in nightclub: smoke machines, flashing green lights, and even a black-box bar. This wasn’t the quirky Camperlab we’ve gotten used to; this was an intentional and planned shift for the brand.

That shift continued upstairs, where the actual show took place. The opening look, a denim suit with a twisted houndstooth pattern, was quickly followed by a shrunken shirt, folding in all the deliberately “wrong” places. This concept recurred throughout the show, appearing in deconstructed and tightly cropped cardigans.

The footwear was, predictably, incredible. As the previous primary focus of the brand, it still anchored the collection. Spiky sneakers were inventive, while square-toe, knee-length cowboy boots were nothing short of breathtaking. But it’s no longer just about the shoes. With clothing now in full force, Gabriel moves Camperlab forward. We’re ready to follow.

Words by Pedro Vasconcelos

CAMPERLAB SS26

ARchive

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