Second Nature: Camo and Luxury, Reimagined by Carlton Jones at New York Fashion Week

By Marcus B Blassingame

A meditation on nature, instinct, and intentional design debuts September 11, 2026 at The Glasshouse with Global Fashion Collective.

NEW YORK, NY — September 2026 — On September 11, 2026, designer and stylist Carlton Jones unveiled Second Nature, his Spring/Summer 2027 collection, on the Global Fashion Collective platform at The Glasshouse in New York City.

For Jones, Second Nature is at once a collection and a state of mind—an elegant reflection on humanity’s instinctive kinship with the natural world, and the ways that nature can shape how we move, dress, live, and create. Born from an encounter with the landscapes and vegetation of Puerto Rico, Jones was captivated by the organic forms, camouflage harmonies, quiet textures, and understated drama of the environment. The collection explores what happens when the natural world is not merely a muse, but an active intelligence—integrated into our creative instinct.
“Nature has always attracted me—the way it moves without effort, the way color exists together, the way something can be both incredibly delicate and incredibly powerful,” says Carlton Jones. “The more I pay attention to nature, the more I understand that there is an intelligence to it. Second Nature is about allowing that intelligence to influence the way I design.”

The presentation continues the evolution of Jones’ signature resort-inspired sensibility, carrying forward his philosophy: “Resort isn’t a destination; it’s a Feeling!” This season, familiar codes are reimagined through a more experimental lens. At the center is the innovative use of mesh within the iconic camouflage print—an exquisite study in transparency, motion, and breathability, rendered to echo the very spirit of chic in the heat.

Introducing a new chapter in Jones’ visual language is Cloudwater, a fluid print drawn from the natural meeting point of sky and water. Together, these elements reveal Jones’ ongoing exploration of nature as both inspiration and instinct—demonstrating how the familiar may be transformed through unexpected textiles, fluid movement, and a recalibrated perspective.

Second Nature arrives at a moment when Jones’ relationship with nature has become more intentional than ever. Through his growing collaboration with Stormwater Holdings, Jones has found a natural intersection between fashion, cultural visibility, and environmental purpose—grounded in a shared belief that influence carries responsibility. In Jones’ view, power should be used to cultivate greater awareness and more intentional choices for the natural world. That responsibility extends beyond the materials within a garment: it lives in how fashion communicates, what it celebrates, what it leaves behind, and how creative industries can leverage their visibility to inspire meaningful action.
“Water has always been a source of inspiration for me—the way it moves, transforms, and connects us to nature. My collaboration with Stormwater Holdings creates a powerful synergy: I draw from water to create, while they work to protect and filter it. It’s a reminder that fashion can use its cultural visibility to inspire more intentional choices for our natural world.”

COLLABORATION AS AN EXTENSION OF THE COLLECTION
Second Nature expands the Carlton Jones creative universe through dynamic collaborations with independent accessory designers whose craftsmanship and perspectives amplify the collection’s intent.

Winston Leathers is the leading leather goods brand in Africa, with more than three decades of heritage in premium leather craftsmanship. The collaboration with Jones introduces impeccably crafted leather bags and obi-inspired belts, delivering a refined finish and a distinct expression of African workmanship. Designed for the traveling consumer, these versatile companions embody Jones’ belief in creating a wardrobe that travels seamlessly with the wearer.

Zhania Studio, renowned for knitting with unconventional materials, created handmade metal-mesh accessories inspired by the vegetation and organic textures Jones encountered along the shoreline in Puerto Rico—the very landscape that sparked Second Nature at its genesis. Rendered in an unexpected medium, the pieces echo the delicate complexity of washed-ashore vegetation, transforming fragile intricacies into sculptural adornment.

Together, these collaborations reinforce Jones’ conviction that fashion becomes most powerful when it becomes a meeting place—between people, cultures, materials, and ideas.

A NATURAL EVOLUTION
Second Nature marks another chapter in the evolution of Carlton Jones, whose career spans nearly three decades as a stylist, image consultant, fashion director, and designer. After shaping the visuals of some of the world’s most recognizable cultural figures—and working across editorial, television, and fashion platforms—Jones launched his eponymous collection in 2016. A decade later, his perspective continues to evolve: from styling the individual to designing an entire experience around how clothing makes us feel.

With Second Nature, Jones asks a simple question—one that grows more urgent by the season: What if our relationship with nature became second nature? The answer is expressed through clothing designed with intention and reverence for the world that continues to inspire it.

For press inquiries, interviews, collaboration opportunities, or collection information: info@carltonjonescollection.com
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