The Tamesis
as one of the few emerging and Among the young designers on the CFDA calendar, Kate Barton leads the way. At least technically speaking, because for her fall 2026 appointments, she’s using AR and artificial intelligence to transform her space instead of hosting traditional showroom appointments. On the top floor, guests can view images from her collection on models against an AR backdrop provided by Amazon; downstairs, they can use the technology to virtually “try on” the pieces themselves. Each look comes with a QR code so you can see a description of the item and the materials used. “Our goal is to show how technology can be used to help us,” Patton said. “Even though we’ve removed the physical element of physically seeing the clothes on the model, everyone can see the clothes themselves come to life.”
Despite Patton’s use of artificial intelligence and augmented reality, her clothes are actually very down-to-earth. Since last season, the designer has been focused on making her futuristic pieces wearable by real people. Her liquid dress is made from jersey, and her signature metallic badge is actually made from fabric that can be tied around the chest or removed as needed. There’s even a great leather jacket and skirt that still looks cool enough to be original to Patton, but doesn’t look so crazy that only influencers wear them. For the real common man, Patton offers some quality knitwear that can be paired with simple jeans.
Patton likes to think outside the box, but understands that to sell clothes you need to appeal to a specific market. This season, she struck that balance perfectly by exploring the unknown through her presentation style while focusing on the wearability of her garments.
