Absent Findings, the Dubai-based fashion house founded by Creative Director Shivin Singh, presents its Fall/Winter 2026/2027 collection Not What You Think at Dubai Fashion Week on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026 at 6.00 PM, at the DFW Complex in Dubai Design District (D3).
The show marks the brand’s debut at Dubai Fashion Week and takes place with the support of Polimoda, one of the world’s leading fashion schools, based in Florence, Italy.
Polimoda alumnus Shivin Singh brought to Dubai Fashion Week a collection that further articulates Absent Findings’ evolving design language and its quiet insistence on misdirection. Building upon the conceptual groundwork of previous collections, My Personal References (SS25) and Early to the Party (SS26), Not What You Think neither departs from nor repeats what has come before. Instead, it deepens an ongoing exploration, stretching familiar references until they appear strange, unfamiliar, and newly charged.
With Not What You Think, Absent Findings continues its long-term investigation into repetition, obsession, and refinement as tools for meaning. Architecture, surrealism, memory, the sari, and the psychology of dress remain central references, approached this season from a more internal, dreamlike perspective. The collection resists immediate interpretation, inviting the viewer into a space of uncertainty where meaning reveals itself gradually, if at all.
Commenting on the brand’s participation, Massimiliano Giornetti, Director of Polimoda, said:
“Supporting our alumni as they step onto international stages is at the core of Polimoda’s mission. Dubai Fashion Week represents a significant platform where different cultural perspectives and contemporary fashion languages converge. Absent Findings embodies a thoughtful and deeply personal approach to design, and Shivin Singh’s work reflects the kind of critical sensitivity, cultural awareness, and creative rigor that Polimoda aims to nurture. We are proud to support his debut at Dubai Fashion Week.”
Designer Shivin Singh, commented:
“To create is to navigate the space between absence and discovery. Absent Findings was born from that tension, from moments of withdrawal that quietly gather meaning, only to re-emerge through form. This collection exists in that in-between state, where memory, fabric, and silhouette become tools for making absence visible. I am grateful to Polimoda for its continued support and for fostering an environment where critical research, experimentation, and personal vision can develop into a professional and independent creative practice.”
Absent Findings’ debut at Dubai Fashion Week also reflects Polimoda’s broader commitment to research, experimentation, and the long-term development of emerging fashion talent. Through its educational model, international network, and dedicated support of alumni-led projects, Polimoda actively fosters designers whose practices combine conceptual depth, cultural awareness, and professional rigor. The school has previously supported the international debut of alumni such as Domenico Orefice at Dubai Fashion Week, reaffirming its sustained engagement with this global platform.
Supporting emerging brands on stages such as Dubai Fashion Week is an extension of Polimoda’s mission to connect education with the contemporary fashion system, bridging Florence’s rich heritage with global markets and encouraging new voices to engage critically with the industry and contribute to its future evolution.
About Absent Findings
Founded by Creative Director Shivin Singh, Absent Findings is a Dubai-based fashion house with roots in Florence, Italy, recognized for its research-driven and conceptual approach to contemporary fashion. The brand explores the intersections of memory, architecture, and cultural heritage through a surrealist lens, translating these references into elongated silhouettes, restrained color palettes, and a refined focus on materiality. The name Absent Findings reflects a dual narrative central to the brand’s identity. The first relates to Singh’s personal journey: raised in Dubai within a structured and protected environment, he later encountered new perspectives while studying finance and accounting in the United States, where moments of absence from conventional paths became catalysts for creative discovery. The second draws from surrealist artist Max Ernst, who described artistic absence as a generative phase of withdrawal preceding meaningful creation. At the core of Absent Findings is a commitment to material continuity and responsible practices. The brand works with repurposed heirloom saris, forgotten textiles, and surplus deadstock fabrics, extending their lifecycles while embedding cultural memory into a contemporary design language. Absent Findings positions fashion as a space for reflection, transformation, and long-term relevance.
Cover image: Absent Findings, Not What You Think — F/W 26/27, photo by Sahil Behal
