Wonderland

TANNER FLETCHER MAKE THE RUNWAY THEIR HOME

We hear from the designers about their SS26 collection, living room set design, and Etsy collaboration.

We’ve all been there; a loved one calls and asks to stay with you, and your home is ill-equipped to host guests. Suddenly, you’re scurrying to get ready for last minute company, vacuuming the floors and going grocery shopping to stock the fridge. You’re lighting a candle just in case the place smells off, putting away a pair of shoes that’s been left by the front door for five days past the last time you swore you’d organize them. You’re popping cookies in the oven and cleaning the bathroom. You’re counting the number of wine glasses. Or, if you’re Tanner and Fletcher, you’re sourcing a whole new set of furniture.

Walking into the Spring/Summer 2026 presentation, guests were welcomed into an undecorated home, greeted with empty boxes and a moving truck. The show started in milieu, with the designers ending a phone call with their moms–on vintage rotary phones, of course–who were arriving earlier than expected for a visit. In a hurry to get their home set up in time, Tanner and Fletcher called in the help of the Etsy Decorating team, TaskRabbit Taskers, and 47 models, who each walked the runway carrying vintage or handmade home decor from the label’s new Re-Decorating Home Collection co-designed with Etsy sellers. As they made their way through the living room set, they dropped off pieces to furnish the space. “The set design was actually based on the interiors of our apartment. We have the same color scheme, the same chair rail with black scalloped paneling, an antique plate wall and skirted furniture.” From curtains to lamps, the team decorated the entire place just in time, before the designers’ actual families rang the doorbell and took a seat.

We spoke to the designers ahead of their Spring/Summer 2026 presentation. Read the interview below…

How are you doing? How was the lead up to fashion week?

Um. I don’t even know how to answer this! It’s one of the most fun times and one of the most challenging. It’s the feeling of excitement mixed with complete stress. It’s almost indescribable. On one hand, I’m putting out fires and dealing with a completely unrealistic to-do list and one the other is pure bliss, preparing for our loved ones to arrive and reminding ourselves that we are about to accomplish something we’ve dreamed of since day one.

What can you tell us about the SS26 collection? Where did the initial inspiration come from?

Our initial inspiration typically comes from the same places each season. We’re always studying history, not only when it comes to fashion but also lifestyle, interiors, architecture, etc. Each collection represents how we’re feeling at any given time. Our favorite discoveries and how it all balances out to work seamlessly together. We love to mash up references from many time periods to create a collection that feels modern and fresh yet surprisingly familiar. This collection has more references to the Victorian and Edwardian eras than ever before with references to antique nightgowns and primitive florals. This becomes less obvious with the addition of evening wear dresses inspired by the 50’s and tailcoats inspired by house staff uniforms.

What is your typical research process like? Specifically for this collection, what were you researching, reading, watching, etc while working on design development?

We study in a way that ignores what we’re not interested in and focuses on what excites us. It’s research without the homework. Our color stories are often brought in with reference to technicolor films. The runway track was composed for us by musical composer Cameron Dammann. I worked hand in hand with him to come up with a track that was inspired by Broadway overtures. We reference the West Side Story overture a lot during this process as well as works by Gershwin and Tchaikovsky. I wanted the music to take the audience on an emotional journey. We find the music we listen to during the collection planning often sets a tone for what is to come. In addition, we look through old interiors magazines, Sears catalogs and even images of 30s-50s night clubs.

What were some of the fabrics, details, or silhouettes you were most excited for people to see?

Dresses are the most expanded category in this collection. We’re excited for people to see us pushing the evening wear to a more intricate place. For example there are 2 silk chiffon dresses, one being a wedding dress, that each have extensive hand sewn floral embellishments that can be seen weaving throughout the dress. There is also a dressing gown inspired dress that consists of lace panels that reveal the dusty pink charmeuse slip underneath and accented with pink bows.

Is there a look you’re most proud of?

I am most proud of the final look in the show. A ballgown using a print inspired by an original 1700’s design. We made matching curtains that were dramatically hung up at the end of the runway. We had this vision in our heads from the start and are so excited to execute it.

Your shows are always such an exciting extension of your collections. For SS26, how did you bring the designs to life?

The storytelling in this show is extensive and something we’re very proud of! We always have the mindset that while the clothes are of course priority, the storytelling/production value is just as important. Rather than designers, we like to be called tastemakers because we take the collection to the next level by illustrating the story that surrounds it. This time, we came up with the storyline of “Re-decorating”. Guests arrived into a sea of moving boxes, the back of a moving truck and the interiors of an undecorated home. Beyond the set, we needed to tell the audience whose house it was and create a reason for models to be frantically decorating a home. As unconventional as we are, we thought, what if it’s our home and our family just so happened to arrive way earlier than expected and we have to scramble to get the place put together. That’s just what we did! Tanner and I started the show by ending a phone call with our moms on vintage rotary style phones. We called in the help of the Etsy Decorating team and the TaskRabbit Taskers to help decorate along with our 47 models who each carried a piece of home decor down the runway. We even ended the show with our real family arriving! The set design was actually based on the interiors of our apartment. We have the same color scheme, the same chair rail with black scalloped paneling, an antique plate wall and skirted furniture.

Can you speak about the Re-Decorating Home Collection with Etsy? How did this partnership take form and how does it serve as an extension to the brand?

This was also a dream collaboration! I reached out to Brad, Etsy’s CMO hoping the idea would stick. Sure enough, they had been interested in NYFW but hadn’t found the right partner. We had such an amazing time working with the team. They brought a ton of great ideas to the table and were sure to allow Tanner and I to achieve the vision we had in mind. Part of the cast wore overalls and hardhats and were in charge of transforming the set in addition to the runway models. These were the actual Etsy sellers we partnered with to make our collaboration products. Two are our friends from MN who have the company True Hue. They make beautiful scented candles. Another two are a mother daughter duo from the UK who made all the lampshades. They even placed some of their creations on the set during their show. The last was the ceramicist who made 3 of the vases that were carried down the runway. Not only was it a great partnership but it was one that had a lot of meaning and supported many small businesses including our own.

You recently posted Instagram stories from your vintage road trip across New England. What were some of your favorite things you saw?

We love road trips to New England! Our favorite things to discover are the old Inns, the antiques and the old taverns and supper clubs that are frozen in time. One of our favorite stores to visit is the Colonial Lamp Shop in Vermont.