Estudio Niksen FW26: Dressing for the In-Between

27 October 2026

For Fall/Winter 2026, Estudio Niksen returns to Wallace Mercantile with a collection shaped by coastal life, changing light and the practical instinct to dress for the weather.

Founded in Montreal in 2021 by Andrés Barrios and Gabrielle Gagné, Estudio Niksen began as a creative platform for clothing, objects and the people surrounding them. The studio now works between its Montreal headquarters and a satellite office in Seoul, creating limited-run collections rooted in functionality, durability and traditional workwear.

The clothes are relaxed and approachable, but never anonymous. Familiar forms are reconsidered through generous volume, unexpected details and a distinctive sense of proportion. Rather than defining itself through a single rigid aesthetic, Estudio Niksen allows its collections to evolve intuitively—guided by the things its team wants to wear and the many ways its community interprets them.

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Estudio Niksen FW26: Dressing for the In-Between

The Art of Doing Nothing

The name Niksen comes from a Dutch concept commonly described as “the art of doing nothing.” It refers to moments of rest without a task, objective or expected result.

For Barrios and Gagné, the idea is less a claim of having mastered stillness than a reminder to pause. In a culture that values constant output, moments without purpose can restore energy, shift perspective and create space for new ideas.

That philosophy is reflected in the clothing. Estudio Niksen makes pieces that do not prescribe one particular identity or way of dressing. The silhouettes leave room for movement, experimentation and personal interpretation. Ease is treated not as an absence of design, but as one of its most important qualities.

Familiar, but Never Fixed

Estudio Niksen’s founders have described the brand’s aesthetic as familiar, with a strong emphasis on volume and shape. Timeless, minimal ideas are often interrupted by a more expressive detail: an exaggerated proportion, an unusual pocket, an asymmetrical element or a playful shift in construction.

The balance keeps the clothes accessible while giving them personality. Workwear, tailoring, sportswear and outdoor clothing meet without settling into a single category. A structured layer can be worn casually; an oversized shape can still feel precise; a practical garment can become the most expressive part of an outfit.

The brand’s simplified, genderless sizing also supports this openness. Instead of dictating one intended fit, the system encourages people to choose how close, loose, cropped or oversized they want a garment to feel.

Fall/Winter 2026: Coastal Uniforms

Estudio Niksen’s FW26 collection takes inspiration from coastal life and the informal uniforms of those who live and work near the water.

In these environments, dressing begins with necessity. Weather changes quickly, layers need to work together and trusted garments return season after season. Clothing is chosen for protection and durability, but it also takes on the character of the person wearing it.

FW26 translates that idea into tactile layers, oversized silhouettes and versatile pieces designed to be combined. Sturdy cottons and protective outer fabrics meet softer knits, relaxed shirting, denim and light tailoring. The collection moves easily between workwear, traditional outdoor clothing and more polished everyday forms.

The palette reflects the coast without becoming literal. Deep navy, storm grey, muted brown and salt-washed tones recall shifting water, weathered surfaces and the fading light of dusk. Texture plays an equally important role, bringing warmth and depth to the collection while allowing otherwise simple shapes to feel distinct.

Chasing the Last Light

The collection’s second chapter looks specifically at transitional moments: the last light of the day, the changing tones of the sea and the space between one season and the next.

That sense of transition is expressed through layering. Pieces are designed to interact rather than stand alone, creating combinations that can adjust to temperature, setting and mood. Oversized shapes offer flexibility, while considered details give each look structure.

There is a strong do-it-yourself spirit running through FW26. The collection provides the elements of a wardrobe without prescribing exactly how they should be assembled. A shirt can function as a layer or light jacket. Relaxed tailoring can be worn with casual jersey. Protective outerwear can sit over softer, less expected textures.

The emphasis is not on achieving a perfectly controlled look. It is on giving the wearer enough freedom to make the clothes feel personal.

Clothes Designed to Become Yours

Estudio Niksen’s approach is rooted in community. Barrios and Gagné began by making small collections they wanted to wear and hoped their friends might enjoy. As the studio has grown, that direct relationship with the people around it has remained central.

The brand produces timeless pieces in limited runs, working with small, family-operated factories and fabric mills in Seoul. Craftsmanship and quality matter, but so does the larger world surrounding the clothing: music, interiors, art, hospitality and the feeling of belonging to a shared creative space.

FW26 carries that philosophy forward. These are clothes intended to be used, layered and interpreted rather than preserved in a fixed state. Their character develops through repetition—through changing weather, familiar routines and the marks that come from being worn.

Estudio Niksen’s latest collection feels grounded in necessity but open to imagination: a coastal wardrobe shaped by instinct, made for the in-between and designed to become personal over time. Discover FW26 at Wallace Mercantile.