Kate Barton SS26: Fluid Futurism, Sport, and Illusion

Writing and Photography by Liuna Aylin | Interview by Lindsey Mallon 

Kate Barton is a breath of fresh air. At only 29 years old, the Kansas native has an uncanny ability to exude confidence while maintaining a humble, approachable nature. What makes Barton singular is her relatability: despite a growing list of prestigious successes, she embodies the perseverance and self-assurance we might recognize in ourselves. 

Kate Barton SS26 | Kate Barton & Georgia Fowler

Kate Barton’s Unconventional Path

Her career, appropriately unconventional, was propelled less by formal training than by fearlessness. Barton’s very first introduction to fashion was through a New York internship — with no design training and, as she admits, no knowledge of sewing. Recalling what she calls her “pivotal moment,” Barton describes being handed a piece to stitch on her first day. Armed only with YouTube tutorials, she submitted a finished garment. It was an early demonstration of her grit and tenacity, qualities that continue to define her work.

Barton later enrolled in graduate school at Savannah College of Art and Design (“SCAD”), where she came to see her lack of formal design conditioning as an advantage. Without preconceived ideas of what fashion “should” be, she forged her own niche. “I opt to figure things out as I go,” she explained. “Now that I'm here and exploring it, it's just really such an organic part of me… it all happened so naturally that I knew this was exactly what I needed to be doing.” 

A “Happy Accident” or Intentional Strategy?

While Barton often describes her career as a series of “happy accidents,” she balances instinct with intentionality. She not only drives the label’s creative vision but also manages the business side, shaping category expansion, building direct-to-consumer channels, and securing retail wins with Revolve and Bloomingdale’s. Her runway designs span diverse aesthetics but carry unmistakable Barton signatures — most famously the viral Goldfish bag, first worn by Heidi Klum (leading to Goldfish Crackers sponsoring her debut show). 

Clothes That Glide Like Water

Left to Right: Tina Koveysha, Georgia Fowler, Jagoda Błotko for Kate Barton SS26

For SS26, Barton anchored her collection in the design language that has defined her from the start: garments that move like liquid. Across previous seasons, she has been celebrated for creating fluid clothing — metallic sheens and sculptural draping that mimic the flow of water. That signature aesthetic remained central this season, with bonded fabrics shimmering as models walked and silhouettes engineered to glide with the body. It provided a polished base for experimentation.

Transitioning to Sportswear

From that foundation, Barton introduced new athletic references that expanded her brand DNA. Evening gowns in futuristic metallics were layered with sports jersey-inspired sweaters, creating a cerebral tension between formality and sport. At once intuitive and engineered, the styling produced a playful duality, looks equally suited to the red carpet and everyday wear.

(Top) Left to Right: Lexie Tapper, Lina Cruz, Jagoda Błotko for Kate Barton SS26

(Bottom) Left to Right: Jace Higgins, Aviana Mcclish, Brenda Mutoni for Kate Barton SS26

Kate Barton SS26 Emphasis on Tension/Duality

Another highlight was Barton’s integration of AI, used not as a gimmick. but as a continuation of her exploration of illusion and perception. The show opened with a projected digital model wearing the first look; as the AI figure dissolved, a live model emerged in the same ensemble — a performance developed with Fiducia AI. The moment underscored Barton’s cerebral approach to design, where garments operate as much in the realm of concept as of craft. “AI is such a core part of the community of the brand,” she said. “People love the conversation of what’s real and what isn’t.”

Left to Right: Adama Jobe, Asako Sato, Anna Savka for Kate Barton SS26

Surrealism, Made Functional

This season also marked a new accessories chapter through a collaboration with Bandolier on a capsule of phone cases. Reinterpreting her viral Goldfish bag concept into a functional format, the designs underscored Barton’s ability to translate surrealist codes into everyday objects. By reimagining the whimsical Goldfish bag into sleek, utilitarian phone cases, Barton underscored her knack for merging surrealist storytelling with functional design — an expansion that signals her readiness for broader commercial categories.

Limitless Horizons

SS26 reaffirmed Barton’s ability to expand her universe while keeping its DNA intact. Looking forward, she imagines bold category expansions and dream collaborations — most notably with Melissa shoes. ‘I really love shoes, and I really want to create a really sick shoe,’ she said. It’s a surprising yet fitting next step for a designer who thrives on blurring categories, offering a glimpse of a limitless future for the brand.