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zambesi 'song to the siren' first drop now live
‘SONG TO THE SIREN’
Auckland, New Zealand - Friday 21 August 2026
This morning, Zambesi presented ‘Song to the Siren’, its Spring/Summer 2026-27 collection, at Ōkahu Bay for New Zealand Fashion Week.
Beginning at the water’s edge, Song to the Siren unfolded as a journey from sea to shore. It was an exploration of sailors and sirens, the wildness of kelp, life beneath the surface and the elemental meeting of ocean and land.
Under the creative direction of Marissa Findlay, the setting became integral to the story. Models emerged along the pier as though from the ocean, carrying its spirit and energy onto land, before circling the exterior of OKAHU as the audience watched from within.
The show opened with Muru Maipi sounding Karanga-a-Hape, a pūtātara held in the collection of Auckland Museum and previously sounded during the America’s Cup. Calling to the seven realms, its sound travelled from the water towards the land, grounding the opening in Aotearoa, whenua and the natural world.
From there, the first look emerged: the Amp dress in Acid, worn by Sophie Song.
“For me, this collection is a love letter to the ocean. I’m inspired by its sailors and sirens, the wildness of the kelp and the beauty of life beneath the surface. You can see that inspiration woven through every element, from the softness of tulle and the movement of mesh, to fisherman-style hats and trenches crafted in natural fibres. It’s about bringing the raw, elemental spirit of the sea onto the runway, translated through the Zambesi lens.” -Marissa Findlay, Creative Director, Zambesi.
An elevated expression of summer, the Spring/Summer 2026-27 collection explores the beauty and versatility of natural fibres through the contrasts that have long defined Zambesi: softness and structure, lightness and depth, the organic and the constructed.
Silk appears in Snake, bringing fluidity and movement. Raffia is transformed through artisanal craftsmanship into jackets and sculptural hats, as well as a fringed skirt and statement bag. Soft tulle and mesh create transparency and movement, while Goldrush sequins bring flashes of reflected light.
The palette moves between land and water. Splash, a fresh mint green, sits alongside saturated Azure cobalt and Seafoam, punctuated by the acidic tone of the show’s opening look.
Texture is central. Raffia recalls the tangled forms of kelp and grasses whilst sheer layers shift with the body and silk moves with fluidity. Against this softness, Zambesi’s characteristic structure remains. The result is a collection that feels simultaneously elemental and refined.
Music direction by Sophie Findlay extended the journey, with a soundtrack featuring New Zealand artist Hun Lynch, alongside PJ Harvey, Sinéad O'Connor and The Golden Palominos.
As the final looks moved from the pier and around the shore, Song to the Siren brought tradition, nature and fashion into a collection drawn from the sea and returned to the land.
Show Credits:
Creative Direction: Marissa Findlay
Music Direction: Sophie Findlay
Pūtātara: Muru Maipi
Hair Direction: Sean Patrick Mahoney & Lauren Gunn from Colleen / Davines
Makeup Direction: Kiekie Stanners with Youngblood
About Zambesi
Founded in 1979 by Elisabeth and Neville Findlay, Zambesi is one of New Zealand fashion’s most enduring independent voices.
Designed by Elisabeth Findlay from the Zambesi workroom in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, each collection evolves through an instinctive exploration of fabric, colour, texture and form. Strong silhouettes meet fluid fabrication; refinement sits alongside the unexpected.
More than four decades on, Zambesi remains uncompromisingly independent and proudly made in Aotearoa New Zealand.
ENDS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Tatum Savage | Savage Society
+64279256320 | tatum@savagesociety.co.nz
