There are fashion shows that impress, and then there are moments that redefine the room. On Friday night during Frieze Week London, Geoff K. Cooper and his label SAGABOI did the latter.
Titled Port of Call, the Spring Summer 2026 men’s collection transformed a stripped-back horse stable in Notting Hill into something transcendent, a crossroads of fashion, art, and Caribbean spirit. It wasn’t just a runway show. It was a homecoming.
The night opened with the New Generation Steel Orchestra, a 16-piece band whose notes rippled through the venue like heartbeat and heatwave all at once. From the first strike of steel, you knew this was no typical fashion presentation. The air itself shifted.
Then, through the glow of blue floors and a yellow-sand runway, the models emerged.
Short shorts, pan stick Bermudas, and crochet tanks gave body and breath to a culture often referenced but rarely represented with this level of beauty. Multi-colour crochet sets handmade by Caribbean women fluttered against the light, embroidered lurex tanks caught the rhythm of every camera flash, and the yellow co-ord inspired by the Jamaican flag hit like sunlight in motion. The show closed in a blaze of scarlet ibis red, as a model carried the Trinidad and Tobago flag down the runway to applause that felt like celebration.
“This isn’t about escape. It’s about presence,” said Cooper backstage. “We carry our style like language, and our culture like compass.”
The collection’s construction told a story of heritage and innovation: tailored linen and jacquard, reimagined WWII RAF caps, and that unmistakable pan stick motif stitched through the garments, a mark of identity reclaimed. SAGABOI made Caribbean craftsmanship look not nostalgic but necessary.
The set, co-created by acclaimed architect Jayden Ali (JA Projects) and artist Michael Mapp, deepened the experience. The floor evoked Caribbean waters, the runway glowed like golden sand, and seating crafted from reclaimed redwood made sustainability feel sacred. It was immersive storytelling, a runway as ritual. As for the styling, House Of Solo’s very own Chalisa Guerrero, and culture-forward stylist, Ramario Chevoy casted a fashion styling spell.
Later that night, the crowd spilled into Aethos Shoreditch for the afterparty. Grey Goose martinis, Caribbean soundtracks, and a sea of creative energy filled the space. It was the kind of night where fashion and community blurred into one, stylists, editors, and artists moving together like family.
Across the weekend, SAGABOI continued the momentum with art installations and a series of talks exploring how Caribbean culture can shape the future of global fashion. The final discussion, “The (Multi)Cultural Ports of Call: A Vibes Check on Art, Creativity, Culture and Diaspora,” brought together leading voices to talk legacy, creativity, and representation.
Port of Call was more than a collection. It was a declaration. Caribbean fashion is not emerging. It is evolving, confidently, globally, and beautifully on its own terms.
With SS26, Geoff K. Cooper didn’t just put the Caribbean on the map. He reminded the world that it has always been the compass.
