AVAVAV, known for its provocative and viral runway concepts, once again challenged expectations with its Fall Winter 2025-2026 show. Attendees arrived to find a grass-covered runway, soon transformed into a scene of unexpected and unsettling imagery.

The show began with a hand emerging from beneath the runway, followed by a model crawling out of a grave-like hole. This dramatic entrance, while certainly attention-grabbing, sparked immediate debate, raising questions about its appropriateness in the current social and political climate.

Creative director Beate Skonare Karlsson later revealed that the controversial concept stemmed from a deeply personal experience. She described grappling with a "quiet fear," a lingering unease stemming from recent health challenges. This forced her to confront her own mortality and reflect on her relationship with her body.

Karlsson chose to channel this fear into her collection, using the creative process as a form of therapy. "As always, the creative process has been a form of therapy for me, translating the uncertainty into something tangible, something expressive," she explained.

The collection explored themes of strength and vulnerability, blending AVAVAV's signature Goth streetwear with feminine touches. Hoodies with rib cage cutouts and baggy denim pants were juxtaposed with boucle blazer jackets, asymmetrical skirts, sheer dresses mimicking cable knits, and bow embellishments.

Sportswear-inspired protective gear, such as American football shoulder pads and boxing gloves with bow ties, clashed with georgette satin pieces. These elements, combined with the zombie-esque posture and soil-covered, bloodied appearance of the models, created a haunting and visceral visual narrative.

The show's unconventional approach served as a platform for Karlsson's personal expression, transforming her anxieties into a tangible and thought-provoking artistic statement.