G-STAR returned to its roots on 7 January 2026 with its FW26 show at RAWFACTORY, the brand’s global headquarters in Amsterdam and a location where design, research and archive come together. Titled Spotlight Returns, the show marks a moment of renewed focus for the brand as it steps back into the spotlight.
FW26 was shown as a continuous presentation, not a traditional runway. Menswear and womenswear appeared side by side, linked by a shared denim language and a clear progression in design. Structured in chapters yet unfolding as a single narrative, the show reflects G-STAR’s current approach to denim: instinctive, considered, and purpose-driven.
RAW RESEARCH
The opening chapter, RAW RESEARCH, was introduced by Dutch artist Frenna. Designed by Lisi and Rushemy Botter. This first phase centers on innovation and experimentation, with denim explored through unconventional construction and proportion. Seams are displaced, volumes exaggerated, and surfaces left raw or treated with technical finishes. Fabrics range from untreated indigo to coated and bonded denims, emphasising materiality and process. RAW RESEARCH is presented as an ongoing approach, one that allows ideas to be tested and denim to be redefined.
ARCHETYPES
As the show progresses, experimentation gives way to clarity. The collection moves towards ARCHETYPES, a celebration of G-STAR’s legacy and the brand’s archive, this product line blends timeless design with exceptional craftsmanship. Made from carefully selected fabrics and elevated construction, each piece embodies the core of the brand DNA. It brings heavier denim weights, clean washes, and functional detailing that introduce a sense of durability and longevity. Articulated construction, reinforced seams and purposeful pocket placements define garments rooted in function and contemporary craft, reimagined for today.
The Return of the Arc
A key element highlighting G-STAR’s commitment to denim innovation is the return of the iconic Arc for FW26. Introduced in 2007, it remains a modern icon nearly two decades later. Defined by its engineered fit, the Arc features twisted leg seams that create an anatomical corkscrew shape, the Arc is reintroduced for FW26 in updated loose and slim fits, continuing to challenge conventional denim construction.
Women at the Core
As the narrative unfolds, womenswear comes sharply into focus, emerging as a defining force within FW26. The design language is clear: bold meets feminine, tailored meets utility, raw meets refined. Strength and elegance move side by side as architectural tailoring, contoured seams and sculptural silhouettes reshape denim with precision and intent. Confident and considered, womenswear is fully embedded in G-STAR’s core denim language, marking a pivotal moment in which women stand at the center of the brand’s present and future.
Space & Sound
Sound contributes to the atmosphere of the show through fragmented voice-over element drawn from an interview with Anton Corbijn. Rather than narrating the collection, his voice functions as an atmospheric layer, reinforcing themes of process, observation, and craft.
By returning to RAWFACTORY, G-STAR highlighted where its ideas take shape. Design, research and archive came together in the same space where the collection was conceived. Spotlight Returns signals a recalibration rather than a reinvention, reaffirming G-STAR’s commitment to clarity, function, and modern denim design.
