'Butt Cheeks Are Completely Commercial' at Aknvas

At Aknvas’ Spring 2026 runway show, a few silhouettes may have looked familiar. That’s because the brand’s Creative Director, Christian Juul Nielsen, is more in tune with his customer base than ever before. His summer camp-inspired denim from Spring 2025 makes a return this season, along with floating mid-waist skinny belts, distressed brown leather and lacy finishes. Nielsen also referenced the ultra mini and cropped two-piece sets, furry textiles and gathered tulle from Fall 2025.

“The collections are starting to repeat certain silhouettes,” Nielsen confirmed in a backstage interview following the show. “What I’ve really learned throughout the last few seasons is that the Aknvas girls really want something very youthful and fresh. Whenever I try to do something commercial, it doesn’t work. For me, what sells is when we do it super mini, cropped and, in general, my clients want it to look like the runway. Butt cheeks are completely commercial at the house of Aknvas.”

View the original article to see embedded media.

Aside from the callbacks to past designs, there’s still plenty of newness for fans of the label to be excited about. This season’s story is inspired by Nielsen’s days at a Danish boarding school — an idea that came to him now that his niece is starting the same journey. “Boarding schools are these amazing places where all these young people from different backgrounds come together,” he explains. “But once you go, you start experimenting [with style].”

Nielsen recalls “funny hats,” “tie-dyed” and “acid-washed” looks and “big boots with princess dresses” as some of his standout fashion memories from the time, all of which he included in this latest collection.

Peplum skirts and shortened trench-like jackets are coupled with thigh-high fisherman boots in a deeper khaki-green, from the brand’s ongoing collaboration with Stuart Weitzman. “We really customized it this time. It’s a great contrast to the princess vibes and the little preppy looks,” said the designer.

Cartoonish florals in bright Kelly greens and fiery red rippling stripes make up this season’s unexpected prints. (Nielsen tends to stick to solids.) Rounding out the collection are see-through tank tops rendered in organza, off-the-shoulder mini dresses and oversized boleros.

“We used a lot of new techniques. There’s printed gabardine fused to cotton. That’s why you have this boxy, stiff look,” said Nielsen. “We have lace fused to canvas as well, and we have pleated lace with sequin embroidery draped into ruffles and fluffy shapes.”

Keep scrolling to see every look from Aknvas Spring 2026.