Go big or go home.
That was designer Batsheva Hay‘s mandate for spring 2026, in more ways than one: yes, the presentation felt like more of a bustling daytime party. But as her client grows up, she’s tapping into looser shapes, and looking to interiors for inspiration.
“You’re going to see a lot of seasonless pieces,” Hay explained amid the milieu. “Actually some are going to be available now in my store, but quite a bit of it is going to be for spring.”
Part of that, she reasoned, was the need from her community for more effortless wares. Don’t let the plumage or bright colors fool you. “It’s a big mash-up of feathers, upholstery fabric, a lot of floral prints and a lot of polka dots. It’s a mash-up of what I really love,” Hay said. After all, she ultimately designs for herself and her friends.
“I was a different woman when I started [the brand],” she said. “I was a new mom, and now, so many things have changed. I’ve spent a lot more time at home. I was the on-the-go woman in my 30s, and now, between COVID-19 and all of that, I’m home more. I’m still designing for myself and my friends and other people who inspire me.”
The garments, mostly in printed cotton, “have silhouettes that are a bit larger,” Hay said. “When I started the brand, it was all nipped-waist and puffed shoulders. Now, I’m in my looser phase in my life.”
In contrast to those upholstery fabrics, Hay is most eager to bring the polka dots to market. “There’s something so neutral about it,” she said, gesturing to a crimson polka-dot prairie frock. The pattern also showed up on a peplum button-up, styled against striped boxer-style shorts, and other tiered floor-length gowns with wide necklines. After all, she said, “I’m still playing with prints and shapes.”