ANREALAGE FW26: GHOST

ANREALAGE’s latest FW26 collection, “GHOST,” pays homage to the 1995 cult anime Ghost in the Shell, a cyberpunk epic centred on a cyborg heroine who blurs the line between human and machine. The film’s exploration of identity and consciousness in a digital world echoes throughout the collection, reflecting contemporary anxieties about our increasingly screen-centred lives.

Can identity survive when the body exists both online and in reality? Japanese designer Kunihiko Morinaga approaches this question with precision. More than thirty years after Ghost in the Shell first imagined this tension, ANREALAGE FW26 brings one of Masamune Shirow’s most striking ideas to life: thermoptic camouflage. Garments dissolve into their surroundings, creating a sense of invisibility and constant change. The show unfolds at IRCAM, the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique, a space where science and art naturally meet.

The universe of ANREALAGE

Kunihiko Morinaga founded ANREALAGE in 2003, combining “REAL,” “UNREAL,” and “AGE” to define the brand’s vision. Each collection focuses on one central idea and connects human creativity with technology. Since 2014, the label has held a regular place at Paris Fashion Week. In fact, the unique vision of ANREALAGE FW26 underscores this blend of innovation and imagination.

“I am interested in making clothes by crossing over science technology and human technology.”
Kunihiko Morinaga

For Fashion Week 26, the designer examines how fashion interacts with technology in a fully digital world. Identity now extends into screens, avatars, and online spaces, weakening the boundary between physical and virtual life. In ANREALAGE FW26, clothing becomes more than material. It acts as a link between the body and its digital extensions.

The Collision of ’70s Retro Glamour and Futuristic Technology

Strong craftsmanship anchors the collection. Rounded, voluminous silhouettes remind of organic shapes, while avatar-like figures with sharp shoulders suggest robotics and protective armour.

At the same time, references to 1970s fashion appear throughout. Flared fringed trousers, floral prairie shirts, and striped trousers introduce a playful, human touch. These elements soften the technological edge and bring warmth into the collection.

Retro glamour also plays a key role. Voluminous shapes suggest romantic psychedelia, while antenna-like facial jewellery creates a surreal, almost alien presence. Bold colours and layered textures capture the freedom of the decade, blending sci-fi heroines with glam-rock attitudes.

Kaleidoscopic florals shift into exaggerated, cartoon-like wired ruffles, while anime-inspired details reflect Ghost in the Shell. This contrast allows the collection to move between past and future with ease, reworking the spirit of the Seventies through a technological lens. Notably, ANREALAGE FW26 embraces this dynamic energy while paying respect to tradition and innovation.

Implementation of cyborg technologies

For the finale, the runway becomes fully immersive. Projected cityscapes and streams of code fill the space, while garments respond directly to their environment. Clothes blend into the background, creating a precise optical camouflage effect. Moreover, ANREALAGE FW26 leverages these technological details to transform the catwalk experience.

Tens of thousands of tiny LEDs sit within the garments. These lights react in real time, copying surrounding patterns so the clothing appears to disappear. The team spent six months developing this system with LED TOKYO, turning garments into responsive surfaces.

Some pieces include smaller programmable LEDs designed for commercial use, allowing wearers to control what appears on the fabric. KYOCERA produced the printed textiles using sustainable methods, while FOREARTH technology created watercolour florals without using water.

This collection pushes textiles into a new role. Faux leather emits light, and faux suede mimics denim with precision. Clothing no longer sits still. It reacts, adapts, and communicates.

ANREALAGE’s FW26 leaves a clear question behind. If clothing can shift between visibility and illusion, what happens to self-expression in a world where identity moves constantly between human and machine?