Mans held a runway show at the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria on October 22nd, as part of San Sebastián Moda Festival. Under the creative direction of Jaime Álvarez, the menswear label did not present a new collection, opting for a retrospective, a selection of its most iconic looks since its creation, nearly a decade ago, to the present day.
The fashion show brought together suits and other pieces that encapsulate the firm’s evolution: from the dark aesthetic of its early collections to an exploration of color and tonal combinations, alongside experimentation with new volumes and silhouettes. The choice of venue is deeply connected to this trajectory. Before the show, Álvarez (born in La Luisiana, Seville, in 1994) explained that many of his designs draw upon the techniques, volumes, and concepts pioneered by Balenciaga; in fact, his latest collection incorporates elements from the master couturier, adapted for menswear and everyday wear.
This collection, for the Fall/Winter 2026 season, acts as a tribute to his grandfather, Emilio, and to his own roots. It earned him the award for Best Collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid this past March. A trained tailor, Álvarez begins each collection by focusing on the fabric itself. He envisions the Mans man as “a free individual, ageless in spirit”, a philosophy that remains central to the firm, even following a hiatus when it also produced womenswear collections.
