ANUNES S/S 2026: The Second Drive at South African Fashion Week

All Images by Eunice Driver Photography

There is always a certain anticipation when ANUNES appears on the South African Fashion Week schedule. We get excited when we see leather during her shows. When it comes to designer, Ana Nunes, leather  is a signal that something  technical and cool is about to unfold. This season’s collection, titled The Second Drive, continues that expectation with a collection grounded in precision and movement.

Drawing from the language of the automobile, the collection translates the idea of  rigid motor engineering and comfortable interiors into garments that feel both structured and fluid. The palette reinforces this idea, with cream white, mahogany red, charcoal grey and black,  very reminiscent of the finishes of sleek, high performance vehicles.

Tailoring remains sharp, a signature of the brand’s balance between avant-garde expression and modern menswear. The pieces go from structured coats, jackets and puffer vests, and more relaxed pieces like parachute trousers, cargo pants and dress trousers. Knitted wool sweaters introduce a quieter softness, contrasting the firmness of leather and corduroy.

Texture plays a leading role throughout. There is a deliberate tension between surfaces that feel rugged and tactile, like treated leather, and those that move with ease, such as the fluid fabrics used for trousers. This push and pull mirrors the collection’s central idea, the balance between control and release, structure and motion.

One of the most striking details comes through in the trench coats, particularly in the sleeves. The leather appears manipulated into what can best be described as a ruched or engineered shirring effect. There is a subtle resemblance to the grill of the car as well as the air vents. The result is a look that gives the sleeves a sense of texture. This detail and this trench coat, in general, stands out as one of our favourite features in the collection.

Equally compelling is the ARC44 bag, inspired by the form of a steering wheel.  A literal interpretation of the collection’s themes.  And in case it isn’t obvious, we are all for bags for men. Maybe a steering wheel bag is the move in the right direction.

With The Second Drive, ANUNES refines its exploration of structure and movement. Through material, texture and form, it builds a collection around precision and the beauty of the motor mobile.