Launched in 2020, the Miu Miu Upcycled initiative is at the heart of the Milanese haute couture house's commitment to circular design.
Since its inception, the program has constantly reinvented existing clothing. It began with an 80-piece capsule collection, designed using vintage dresses from the 1930s to the 1980s, before collaborating with Levi's in 2021 on denim, revisiting leather jackets in 2022, celebrating denim in early 2024, and then partnering with Catherine Martin for her 2025 collection. Each edition extends, renews, and enriches the life of garments once worn and loved.
Sourced in limited quantities from vintage experts around the world, the pieces are restored and then completely reinvented: silhouettes are exaggerated, shortened, or oversized; trousers become jackets, bustiers, or skirts. More than just restoration, it's a true exercise in transformation.
For 2026, three materials are at the heart of the collection and interact with each other with the playful spirit and precision that characterize Miu Miu.
White cotton poplin opens the conversation. Light and clean, it embodies a preppy aesthetic brought up to date. Born in the 1950s on American campuses, this preppy style is making a strong comeback. From classic chic to sportswear touches, it reflects an era of counterculture. Popularized in the 1980s, it is reinterpreted here through the lens of Miu Miu: shirts restructured into dresses or pinafore tops, split sleeves, and reimagined collars.
Another cornerstone of this collection is the embroidered khaki chino, which stands out as its most iconic element. A quintessential workwear fabric, it is here elevated by crystal flower embroidery, prints, lace panels, ribbons, and bows. This material is featured in trousers, low-rise skirts, jackets, backpacks, and even a clutch bag crafted entirely from vintage chino.
Miu Miu also revisits a timeless classic, popularized by Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley, that transcends eras without ever losing its power: leather. Patinated by time, it becomes a true marker of character for the Italian fashion house. Introduced in the form of signature collars, embellishments on accessories, or structured panels, it contrasts with the softness of poplin and the robustness of chinos. Its signs of wear are no longer concealed, but celebrated as tangible proof of the passage of time.
It is in this encounter between fluid poplin, embroidered chinos, and patinated leather that the Upcycled 2026 universe comes to life, where each material tells a story while opening up new perspectives. Moreover, since each piece is finished by hand, no two are alike: this uniqueness constitutes the very essence of the project. Thus, even seemingly innocuous sartorial archetypes become imbued with meaning.
Photographed by Alasdair McLellan, with art direction by Christopher Simmonds and styling by Lotta Volkova, the campaign features Suki Waterhouse in a deliberately minimalist studio, furnished with a single chair and the brand's signature blue and khaki backdrops. Stripped of all artifice, the image allows the model's attitude, gestures, posture, and gaze to take center stage. The Upcycled 2026 looks are worn alongside pieces from the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, creating a dialogue between archive and contemporary design.
The Miu Miu Upcycled 2026 collection has been available in a selection of stores worldwide since May 18, 2026. It was previewed on May 13 at the flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo, during the Miu Miu Jazz Club.
