The three dresses printed with Purina Dog Chow packaging show that Jason Wu is a pet-loving artist, too.
Collaborations in Fashion Weeks are nothing new. You know how it goes—designers join forces with fellow designers, and brands work with other brands to create unique collections that thrill the global fashion community. Jason Wu, however, is putting a new twist to the long-standing tradition by partnering with the unlikely: Purina Dog Chow.
The Taiwanese-Canadian fashion designer, on Sept. 14, 2025, unveiled his spring/summer 2026 collection, which commemorates the 100th birthday of Robert Rauschenberg. Wu’s new lineup is a living artwork inspired by Rauschenberg’s “Airport Suite” (1974) and “Hoarfrost” (1974-1976) series.
A pioneering figure in American art, the late painter, collagist, photographer, and sculptor, Rauschenberg is best known for transforming everyday materials into evocative works of art. For his “Airport Suit” and “Hoarfrost” series, Rauschenberg transferred images and texts from magazines and newsprint onto transparent, unstretched fabric in a process dubbed “solvent transfer techinique.” According to the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the artworks showcase the “artist’s interest in recycling of materials and forms.”
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That is why for his Spring 2026 show, Wu translated Rauschenberg’s works and methodology not only through his clothes that evoked raw beauty, but also its setting at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Wu decked the industrial show space with Rauschenberg’s towering ‘70s collaged works, which the designer loaned from the foundation.
His new collection, titled “Collage,” explores the dialogue between fashion and art through collage. “What I really like about fashion is it’s about the reflection of what’s happening in our society, and it’s a time that I think we need to,” Wu told WWD at the backstage of his spring show.
He added that his new collection “marks a time that we are in right now,” where the world needs beauty more than ever. “It’s also a reflection of me,” he continued. “I’m a collage—I’ve lived everywhere, and and New York is the biggest collage place ever.”
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The result is a design crafted through the lens of deconstructed beauty—and unexpected partnerships. “For the first 10 years of my career, I was trying to be very perfect because I thought that’s what people wanted to see. I’m taking my DNA, but doing it as I would do it now, with a little more guts,” Wu added.
He brought the collage technique to life through silhouettes that were delicately deconstructed. He carefully peeled back the layers of a cardboard-inspired corset dress and combined draped sheer and printed panels with evening and sportswear pieces. The designer constructed skirts that peeled away from the body with floating panels, as well as shirts with layered fabrics and buttoned seams.
Fringes were reconstructed with printed washed satin, while silk slips and sheer gowns came printed with fragile florals. Soft gauze overlays revealed strips of patchwork lace underneath. Just like Rauschenberg’s work, Wu’s seemingly undone clothes captured light and movement. With every piece, it’s as though Wu is saying that these aren’t clothes designed for perfection, but ones that embody the beauty in fragments.
Among the show’s highlights were three ensembles featuring Purina Dog Chow packaging, also found in Rauschenberg’s works. “I was captivated by the bold Americana aesthetic, especially the iconic checkerboard pattern featured on the Purina Dog Chow bag collaged within the work,” said Wu in a news release.
The infusion of Purina Dog Chow into Wu’s collection is also a reflection of the designer’s connection to the brand, both as an artist and a pet owner. “As someone who deeply loves animals, I recognized that same appreciation in Rauschenberg’s life and work as well. This connection felt both meaningful and serendipitous, providing the perfect opportunity to weave Purina Dog Chow’s 100-year heritage and visual identity into our collection in an authentic and artistic way,” Wu said.
The Jason Wu Spring 2026 runway show is part of New York Fashion Week, which features over 60 designers. It runs until September 17 (Manila time).
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