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The Most Beautiful Craft Techniques Seen at New York Fashion Week

Braiding, pleating, macramé and trompe l’oeil: our best of the Spring Summer 2027 collections

di Francesca Zaccagnini

16 September 2026

New York is a city that has made minimalism one of its defining principles, yet this September, its runways also seem to have made room for intriguing craftsmanship and decorative details.

BEVZA

The smocked dress

CULT GAIA
The pleating + braiding combo

CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
Embroidery with leather patches

The Spring Summer 2027 shows alternated minimalist silhouettes with an extensive, and often highly creative, use of appliqués, embroidery, sequins and beads, reflecting the brands’ desire to experiment and embrace playfulness.

DIOTIMA
The bead-dotted net

CAROLINA HERRERA
The tapestry embellished with crystals

AREA
Honeycomb effect in aluminium sheet

Some did so in a bold and striking way, choosing unusual materials such as plastic and aluminium; others combined different techniques to achieve new and unexpected effects, while some remained true to their essential aesthetic without giving up on experimentation, creating garments and accessories whose complexity is revealed only upon closer inspection. Here are, in our view, the most beautiful craft techniques seen throughout the week.

COS
Leather on leather

RAG&BONE
Cornely embroidery

KHAITE
The macramé dress

GRACE LING
The metal top

ULLA JOHNSON
3D animal print made of tassels

BIBHU MOHAPATRA
Oversized sequins with a dégradé effect

HEIRLOME
Fringed macramé

THOM BROWNE
Fabric origami