Military jackets have long since entered the imagery of fashion well beyond their original function, and for Autumn/Winter 2026, Alpha Industries and Andersson Bell start precisely from this shared heritage to experiment with new shapes, layering and material contrasts.

The collaboration brings two different approaches to design into dialogue. On one side, Alpha Industries brings a history tied to functional clothing and military outerwear; on the other, the South Korean brand Andersson Bell introduces an experimental sensibility, built through the juxtaposition of different cultural references and aesthetic languages. The result is a capsule collection of three pieces that retains the recognisable codes of the military wardrobe while questioning its most familiar constructions.

At the centre of the project are three reinterpretations of Alpha Industries outerwear. The CWU-45/P Flight Jacket keeps the silhouette of the classic aviator jacket, but sets it apart with a resin finish that alters its surface and visual impact. The Flight Vest, meanwhile, focuses on a padded construction and removable details, designed to offer different combination possibilities. Completing the collection is the Vest Layered N-2B, which pairs the N-2B military jacket with a velvet vest, introducing a contrast between materials and volumes.

Rather than simply revisiting archive models, the capsule works on how these pieces can be worn and interpreted in the present. Layering becomes an integral part of the project, while modular elements allow the construction of the garment to be altered. Functionality, a distinctive trait of Alpha Industries, is not abandoned, but becomes the starting point for an aesthetic exploration that leaves room for less conventional combinations.

This attitude is also linked to the identity of Andersson Bell, founded in Seoul in 2014 with the intention of connecting Korean sensibilities with Scandinavian references. The brand’s very name embodies this duality: Andersson evokes a common Swedish surname, while Bell refers to the traditional bell of Korean temples. Over the years, the brand has broadened this perspective, building a language that arises from the encounter between cultures and seemingly distant elements.

Founded in 1959 as a supplier of clothing to the US military, Alpha Industries has followed an equally significant path, transforming functional models such as the MA-1 bomber and the M-65 jacket into reference points for urban fashion and various subcultures. The collaboration with Andersson Bell fits into this evolution: an archive is not treated as something to be preserved unchanged, but as a foundation from which to start new interpretations.

This is where the project finds its most interesting aspect: when a garment already has a recognisable history, innovating it does not necessarily mean distorting it. It may be enough to work on a surface, change a proportion or add an unexpected element to open up new possibilities. Alpha Industries and Andersson Bell thus show how tradition can continue to generate ideas without becoming a limit to experimentation. The Alpha Industries x Andersson Bell FW26 collection is already available globally through the online and physical stores of both brands.