EgonLab rises from the ashes like a phoenix

With its Fall/Winter 2026–2027 show titled Lazarus, EgonLab offers a clear-eyed take on an industry that favors commercial appeal over creativity.

By Léa Zetlaoui.

The prelude to the EgonLab show

Little known in France, British actress and activist Jameela Jamil is a leading figure in feminist, queer and body-positive movements in her home country. Her voice resounded at the start of the EgonLab Fall/Winter 2026–2027 show as a warning against a fashion industry ready to sacrifice creativity on the altar of profitability.

Jameela Jamil’s manifesto

”Most flee the darkness; we built our sanctuary within it. Brick by shattered brick, on the ruins of every forsaken dream. Broken souls are the most beautiful, yet few dare to approach, afraid their own hearts might bleed at the touch. But here every spark becomes a blinding flame, every word holds the power of a thousand songs.

Creativity is a blade thin, sharp, unforgiving. Only the braves dare reach for its edge. Our hands are stained not with sin, but with the raw matter of creation. Make no mistake: the true monsters do not lurk in the dark. They walk in daylight, smiling as they drain the world of wonder and call it efficiency. They speak in profit and kill with silence.

Still, we endure. In the trembling breath between two heartbeats. Attraction should not be seen as a wicked spell, and happiness should not be seen as a price. The fight should not be against each other and unity is not utopia.

Love will not tear us apart.”

Lazarus, the rebirth of EgonLab

When they launched EgonLab in 2019, Kévin Nompeix and Florentin Glémarec had no idea the Covid-19 pandemic would put the brakes on their momentum. But far from admitting defeat, the partners in both life and work used that quiet spell to make a name for themselves on the Paris fashion scene.

Informal gatherings held in their apartment, which doubled as a showroom, allowed them to forge a special relationship with the French fashion press. Not a usual dynamic, frankly.

Perhaps this unusual context worked in their favor. In 2021, they were awarded the Pierre Bergé Prize by ANDAM. Four years later, the saying “different times, different ways” takes on new meaning.

Mais sans doute ce contexte particulier leur a été bénéfique. Et pour preuve, en 2021, ils se voient récompensés du prix Pierre Bergé de l’ANDAM. Cependant, quatre ans plus tard, l’expression “ autres temps, autres mœurs ” prend une résonance toute particulière.

As they explain in the collection notes: “The LAZARUS collection reflects our take on an industry and a world that imposes conformity and sacrifices creativity on the altar of productivity. In this context, the role of the creative becomes increasingly uncertain, and dissenting voices that challenge the dominant narrative grow ever thinner. LAZARUS speaks to an awakening, a desire to reconnect with one’s true self both creatively and personally. It is a rebirth.”

A collection between creativity and marketing

Let’s be honest, this heartfelt outcry from EgonLab’s founders resonates deeply with today’s perception of the fashion and luxury industries. But back to the essentials… The Fall/Winter 2026–2027 show.

The collection stands out for its deep blacks, crinkled textures, dry wools, and fluid jerseys forming a dark, dense visual language infused with the idea of transformation. Trompe l’oeil effects, asymmetry, and raw edges suggest unfinished metamorphoses. At times, the silhouette becomes more radical with oversized shoulders, layered tailoring, and puzzle-like denim with large details. Also notable are feathers, patchwork, and hybrid effects that blur the lines between couture and ready-to-wear.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Lazarus collection stands as a laboratory for identity. While it dives into the fragile balance between creative ambition and commercial viability, it invites us to navigate between imposed conformity and unapologetic individuality.