Central Saint Martins Graduate Yaku Stapleton Takes London Fashion Week by Storm with Third Collection
For Yaku Stapleton, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, the third time is truly the charm. As he presents his latest ready-to-wear collection at London Fashion Week, it’s clear that he has come full circle and is ready to make a lasting impression.
Stapleton, who graduated from CSM’s MA program in 2023, is back on the runway with his eponymous label, showcasing his most immersive and impressive sartorial creations yet for Spring 2026. Titled “A Ground to Stand On,” the collection features a range of armor-inspired pieces that push the boundaries of fashion and design.
But for Stapleton, his designs go beyond just clothing. He draws inspiration from his own family, continuing the story of his characters from last season’s “Tutorial Island” collection. This time, they are equipped with even more functional and mental capabilities to conquer a more advanced map.
In a pre-show conversation with Vogue, Stapleton explained, “Our collections follow a family that’s based on my own family. It’s like a group of characters who are exploring and navigating a limitless world that’s inspired by the online RPG I used to play when I was young—as well as our own human and natural history. It’s a combination of all these influences through the prism of fashion design.”
He added, “They built their own skills to a point that they’re now ready to go and face real-world challenges. They also want to go and see what the wider world has to offer. And I think as a team who has largely been working together for two years, we are ready to take a bigger step forward this time.”
Take a look at Yaku’s Spring 2026 collection in the gallery above and stay tuned to Hypebeast for more coverage of Fashion Week. This is one designer you won’t want to miss.
