FitFlop teams up with Ester Manas for AW26 collection
FitFlop has teamed up with French designer Ester Manas for a new autumn/winter 2026 footwear collection, mixing the brand’s biomechanical expertise with Manas’ focus on bold, inclusive design. The limited-edition capsule marks a further step in FitFlop’s evolution beyond its traditional comfort-led proposition, as the brand continues to introduce more fashion-focused styles alongside its biomechanical technology. The collaboration comprises five silhouettes across 13 styles, with prices ranging from £110 to £190. The collection is available through FitFlop’s website and selected global stockists.
Design and Accessibility
At the centre of the collection is FitFlop’s mule, which has been reworked by Manas with a sharper, squared-off toe designed to create a more elongated silhouette. The partnership is split across two releases, including an ultra-exclusive edition of 96 individually numbered pairs worldwide, alongside a broader capsule designed to bring the designer’s aesthetic to a wider audience. Founded by Ester Manas and Balthazar Delepierre in 2019, the Paris-based label has built its reputation around inclusivity and challenging traditional approaches to dressing women. Its designs combine considered pattern cutting and an emphasis on fit with more expressive silhouettes.
The launch also follows FitFlop’s continued international expansion. In May, the brand opened its first standalone store in mainland Europe in Puerto Banús, Marbella, as part of a strategy to grow its physical retail presence alongside its wholesale network. This strategic mix of exclusive drops and broader retail access suggests the company is testing how much of its fashion-forward push can be sustained without alienating customers who prioritize function. As the brand moves further into the fashion environment, the balance between its biomechanical heritage and high-concept design will likely determine the long-term success of these hybrid collections.
Brand Strategy
The collaboration comes as FitFlop continues to broaden its own product offer. While the brand remains rooted in its biomechanically engineered comfort technology, it has expanded into sneakers, boots, clogs and more fashion-led footwear in recent years. Louise Noble, Chief Product and Brand Officer at FitFlop, said: “Ester has a unique ability to create pieces that feel desirable, expressive and deeply considered all at once.” Ester Manas added: “At Ester Manas, we believe fashion should adapt to people, never the other way around. With FitFlop, we wanted to prove that bold design, comfort and inclusivity don’t compete, they strengthen each other.”
In an interview with TheIndustry.fashion in July, FitFlop CEO Gianni Georgiades said the brand aims to “fuse comfort and aesthetics”, while describing its evolution as a move from a broad comfort player to a more clearly defined, science-backed global brand. This strategic shift ensures that the brand can appeal to a broader market while maintaining the specific credibility associated with its engineering roots.
