Robert Abi Nader – Aurora Borealis SS26 Haute Couture Show
Leah Ermann
Robert Abi Nader Where Haute Couture Meets Light in Paris
Under the lights of Paris, at the iconic Pavillon Cambon Capucines, Robert Abi Nader unveiled his Haute Couture Spring Summer 2026 collection, Aurora Borealis. This season, the Lebanese designer presented a show that bought together couture, emotion, and light. In doing so, he reaffirmed his distinctive approach to storytelling through fashion. Known for refined craftsmanship, Robert Abi Nader created an immersive runway inspired by natural light. For SS26, Aurora Borealis marks an important moment in the designer’s career. Importantly, it positions the collection as a poetic yet powerful exploration of light, movement, and contemporary femininity.
Aurora Borealis: Light, Colour, and Movement
Inspired by the ethereal phenomenon known as Aurora Borealis, the collection takes its reference from a natural light display that appears in the night sky near the Earth’s polar regions. Since it is known for its movement and fleeting beauty, Robert Abi Nader explores light as something alive, constantly shifting and never fixed. Meanwhile, fabrics appear to flow, reflect, and dissolve as models move across the runway. Visually, the collection unfolds through a rich spectrum of green, moving from deep forest tones to soft pistachio shades.Meanwhile, mauve and lilac introduce contrast, while gold and silver highlights reflect light across the clothing. Together these colours shape the runway atmosphere, creating a sense of depth and movement. Moreover, the palette enhances the collection’s light driven concept. As a result, each look glows subtly as it moves. This effect reinforces the immersive and dreamlike mood of the show.
Robert Abi Nader Craftsmanship and Modern Silhouettes
At the heart of the collection lies exceptional haute couture craftsmanship, where structure and fluidity exist in balance. Throughout the designs, Robert Abi Nader draws upon the inspiration of Aurora Borealis to work with crisp taffeta, duchesse satin, airy chiffon and flowing silk crêpe. Furthermore, delicate tulle gowns are adorned with hand embroidered sequins, baroque inlays, and re embroidered tulles that light up the volumes. These feminine silhouettes celebrate strength, grace and self assertion, designed for women who fully embrace who they are. Subsequently, the collection presents a modern vision of femininity that feels confident, free, and emotionally expressive. Meanwhile, the masculine silhouettes extend this vision with majesty through richly embroidered capes, balancing power, lightness and transparency. Through this approach, the collection presents couture as a shared language. In doing so, it embodies a modern vision of confidence, freedom, and emotional expression.
A Sensory Runway Experience Inspired by Aurora Borealis
To complete the experience, immersive lighting and a carefully curated music transformed the runway into a fully sensory environment. This allowed the collection to unfold through movement, sound, and light. Reflecting on the show Robert Abi Nader explains, “The Aurora Borealis has always fascinated me with its dancing light—ephemeral yet unforgettable. I wanted to translate this fleeting beauty into fashion.” Ultimately, Aurora Borealis confirms the designer’s ability to fuse art, nature, and haute couture. Overall, The SS26 collection marks a defining moment in his career, positioning him as a designer who transforms emotion and light into storytelling on the runway.
Robert Abi Nader Website
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Leah Ermann is a South African Fashion Business student whose identity and vision are deeply rooted in the landscapes, cultures, and contradictions of her home country. Growing up in South Africa meant being constantly aware of extremes. These realities shaped her sensitivity to the world around her and challenged her understanding of fashion as something far beyond surface-level beauty. In a place where many people are fortunate simply to own a pair of shoes, Leah learned early on that clothing carries meaning, privilege, and responsibility.
Alongside this awareness grew a profound connection to nature and conservation, spending a lot of time in the bush deepened her understanding of the impact humans have on endangered wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Leah sees fashion as a silent but powerful language, a way to express identity, values, and cultural stories without words.
She is driven by a desire to explore the deeper meanings behind collections, to learn from new cultures, and to use fashion as a platform to amplify South African creativity, resilience, and humanity. Ultimately, her goal is to create work that not only reflects where she comes from whilst learning about other cultures, but also contributes to change, honoring both people and the natural world that shaped her.
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