Marke – The Summer I Never Had

With its Spring/Summer 2026 collection “The Summer I Never Had,” Cologne-based label MARKE takes the audience on an emotional journey through imagined histories and forgotten freedoms. Designer Mario Keine describes the collection as “a deeply personal and poetic tribute, envisioning the queer summers history never allowed.” For MARKE, this is more than fashion: “It’s a love letter to lost youth, imagined freedom, and queer resilience.”

ALL IMAGES
Photography – Andreas Hofrichter

Beyond shapes and fabrics lies a subtle narrative woven into every garment—like chapters of a secret summer romance. Keine draws inspiration from queer coming-of-age novels like Maurice, Swimming in the Dark, and Young Mungo, stories set in times when same-sex love was hidden. MARKE channels this suppressed intimacy through muted vintage palettes and discreet motifs—handwritten notes, pinned blossoms, and hidden messages. Each detail acts as a quiet symbol of longing and resistance.

Berlin’s reputation for creative freedom and rebellious culture makes it the perfect backdrop. MARKE blends contrasts—heirloom jacquard jackets with casual hoodies, tailored classics with sporty jersey—reflecting their ethos of “tradition and rebellion.” In a city where vintage markets meet graffiti streets, MARKE’s tale of hidden summer love fits perfectly with Berlin’s open-minded spirit.

MARKE’s SS26 show told a story of first secret love across 21 looks, blending textures like linen, wool, cotton, and jersey, while challenging traditional roles. In Berlin’s free-spirited fashion scene, these designs felt right at home. The city thrives on subversion and creative freedom, and MARKE embodied that spirit fully: a personal, radical theme expressed through garments breaking conventional rules. The result is an emotionally rich collection—more than color and cut—a fashion language sharing an intimate, historic narrative with its audience.