This season’s Shanghai Fashion Week took place amid a fraught economic landscape: the city is still recovering from more recent covid shut downs than the rest of the country, while China as a whole is still grappling with the 20% tariffs Trump placed on imported goods from the country. But luxury slowdown or not, creativity reigned supreme, and SHFW went ahead as usual, with over 200 brands and nearly 1,000 trade shows. As a lot of the event’s happenings didn’t reach IG (which is banned in China), we’ve compiled a list of some of the week’s most memorable moments, from robots on the runway to street style that delivered.
Xander Zhou kicked things off (sort of)
Although Xander Zhou didn’t host a show this season, it did showcase a collection and get the fashion set talking. Its AW25 offering was launched by his friends (all fashion big names) via social media, hours before the brand premiered the collection on its official channels. The roll out was a commentary on technology and perception: a social experiment designed to demonstrate how our perception of things is altered by the way we discover it. The collection itself was equally tech-forward, with models wearing VR headsets, modern holsters containing silver spikes, and fits featuring what looked like airplane wings.
The street style delivered
The street style is a highlight at every fashion week—an opportunity to see how the fashion community have interpreted recent runway trends—and at Shanghai, the attendees delivered: Balenciaga’s wrap-around glasses made an appearance, stripes punctuated outfits, pointed heels and socks were worn Miu Miu style, as were hoods and protective rain gear.
A robot walked the runway at NMTG
And things didn’t just get futuristic at Xander Zhou. During NMTG’s runway show, a robot ‘dog’ and ‘human’ appeared on the runway, with the ‘dog’ flipping on the stage, and robot interacting with one of the models, who draped it in a 3D-printed necklace in the shape of a deer, which are a symbol of harmony and hope. The symbolism was undoubtedly a commentary on humans’ ability to live harmoniously with robots, in an era where AI is playing an increasingly prevalent role in our lives, especially in the creative industries.
Fashion incubator Labelhood championed emerging designers
Labelhood is a design incubator scheme founded by Tasha Liu. This season, it showcased the 19th edition of the Labelhood Pioneer Fashion Art Festival, where eleven Chinese fashion designers (including Papi Lav, Le Ngok and Zita Tan) and several creative forces from China's new gen presented their work via runway shows, immersive experiences, and fashion presentations.
Private Policy swapped NYFW for Shanghai
This season marked the first time NYC-based Chinese brand Private Policy showed only in China, usually supplementing its China shows with one in New York. This season’s show satirized ‘old money’ style (and the people who dress in it when they categorically didn’t come from it) via Barbour-style jackets, blazers, and intentionally messy ties. Basically, it was giving Connecticut money meets indie sleaze. The brand also served up 3D printed spheres and pointed tips that can be applied to Nike sneakers.
A horse trotted down the runway at As Dalio
And robots weren't the only inhuman creature to walk the runway. Beijing-based brand AS Dalio made its fashion week debut, and sent a black horse—led by its reins by a model—down the runway. Elsewhere, the collection was (fittingly) glamorous, serving opulent fur trimmings and rouched silk, befitting of a rich horse girl.
Featured image via Getty
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