Nature has been the muse of storytellers and artisans since the very beginning (see: the snails, frogs, and other funny little guys who occupied the margins of medieval manuscripts and ancient tapestries). Today, it can often feel like we’ve lost touch of that side of ourselves, and then something like Antonio Marras’s AW26 show comes along.

This season saw the Italian designer embrace nature’s treasures, and the mythmaking that comes along with them, with open arms. Accompanied by evocative, flower-strewn show notes, it also centred on the idea of breath, memory and slowing down. In other words? It was a chance to literally stop and smell the roses.

Missed what went down? We’ve gathered everything you need to know below.

THE SPACE WAS A WHIMSICAL GARDEN

In London, it feels as if spring has sprung, and you might say the same about the venue for Antonio Marras AW26. Models walked on a carpet of golden leaves, against a backdrop of tangled branches and blooms, in-keeping with show notes that spoke about a “Jana with cloud-like feet” who embroiders a snail’s shell with roses to transform it into a “travelling secret garden”.

AND THE CLOTHES?

The lush garden theme continued in the collection itself, via reinterpretations of parkas and kimonos, as well as sheer dresses bearing sparkling floral embroidery. Elsewhere, things took a more masculine turn, such as in the label’s tailoring with bold red rose motifs.

THE CARAGOL BAG WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW

In the dialect of Alghero, a city on the north west coast of Sardinia, “caragol” means snail. The Caragol bag of the same name was the self-proclaimed protagonist of the show, appearing in various colours: teal, burgundy, ivory and brown. Made entirely in Italy, the bag itself is rich with meaning and masterfully handcrafted. But, unlike what the name would suggest, it’s designed for a more immediate kind of appreciation, hitting Antonio Marras’s flagship stores in Milan Montenapoleone, Florence, Rome, and New York (as well as online) on the very same day it hit the runway.

Head to the gallery above to check out more of the collection.