Our Favorite Shows of Shanghai Fashion Week SS26, So Far

From London to Paris, Spring/Summer 2026 showcases lit up the runways, our screens and our fashion moodboards, but the circuit wouldn't be complete without the ambitious and audaciously creative collections now on showcase at Shanghai Fashion Week. Calling on global players and homegrown talent to explore the evolving relationship between style, technology, culture and sustainability, SHFW will welcome hundreds of new collections across its landmark venues from XINTIANDI to SUHE HAUS and NEW BUND 31.

8ON8 and XUZHI will mark special anniversaries at XINTIANDI while SHUSHU/TONG will close out LABELHOOD with a 10-year tribute show. The international spotlight is equally strong. Adidas is set to stage its "POWER OF THREE" takeover, bringing musicians, models and dancers into a celebration of sport-meets-fashion culture and H&M continues its designer collaboration program. Elsewhere, global names like Korean label EENK, American newcomer Climate Project, and designers from France, Italy and Vietnam will join the events.

Keep reading to explore our highlights from the Shanghai Fashion Week SS26 season, so far.

While you're here, check out the SS26 trends that you need on your radar.

FORDARE

If Ashley Williams and GCDS had a baby, her name would be FORDARE -- girly, glitchy and totally in control. For its SS26 collection, "Romance in the 21st Century," FORDARE approached modern love with clear-eyed honesty.  Lace is layered with manga-inspired graphics and reworked into sporty silhouettes, creating a wardrobe for romantics who refuse to be fragile, even if they're lounging in bed. Slogan T-shirts reading "plastic relationship," "eternal love," and "best woman" deliver punchy commentary about dating today while an "I Love Men" shirt crosses out the "N." Elsewere, a 3D printed corset turns vulnerability into strength, while a ceramic accessory collaboration with label it doesn't matter adds to the wearable artistry.

AO YES

Inspired by the prose of poet Yu Dafu, AO YES SS26 channeled romance and the warmth of summer nights. This collection felt utterly wearable, everything suggested ease without sacrificing intent including dresses over trousers, tailored collared shirts and ballooned capris. We particularly loved the unique colorway consisting of bright reds, mint and charcoal, which makes the styling look effortless and captivating in unison.

OUDE WAAG

Titled "Mirror, Mirror," OUDE WAAG's SS26 collection, explored contemporary femininity as resilient, fluid and self-assured, navigating the gaze of others with quiet confidence. Highlights included silk and velvet gowns with deep cut-outs that moved with architectural form. Bringing a touch of sportswear inspiration to an otherwise evening-wear offering, the brand utilized jersey satin combined with washed cargo pants and jackets.

Jacques Wei

Inspired by '80s styling, Jacques Wei SS26 is both nostalgic and forward-looking while maintaining his signature fuse of Eastern and Western design principles. Oversized coats in matte leather were paired with pleats and structured silk, while lace, beading and hand-embroidered finishes added luxurious textures throughout the collection. Color blocking like dark brown and bright pink reinforced the collection's visual impact, while textured accessories including fuzzy headwear and tall gloves added an extra helping of glam.

8ON8

8ON8 SS26 models didn't walk down the runway, they sprinted. Celebrating its eighth anniversary with a collection dubbed "RUNNER THE DREAMER," designer Gong Li used running culture as a creative anchor. Technical fabric met heritage craft, with hand-pleated dresses and embroidery clashing playfully against neon windbreakers and outerwear. The palette swung between grounded terracotta and hyper-bright green, as if inspired by nature but on 100% saturation. A collaboration with KEEN delivered a reinterpretation of the classic JASPER, complete with tasseled heels that nods to horse tails ahead of the Chinese Year of the Horse. Every detail reinforced the message: chasing a dream is a sprint and a hallucination all at once.

Zita Tan

Zita Tan made her ready-to-wear debut at SHFW with a collection inspired by the ocean. The collection unfolds in layers representing the "Three Tides." The first, guided by the moon, embodies desire and gravitational pull. The second, shaped by wind, emphasizes freedom of motion. The third rises from within, reflecting perception and identity. Oceanic motifs were also made tangible with tangled seaweed, spiral beading and waved cut-outs.

RuirUiruI

RuirUiruI SS26 approached the idea of transformation through a clear visual metaphor: the lunar cycle. Titled "Triple Moon," the collection was translated into three phases moving from restrained minimalism visualized through oversized suits to to full-glam, embodied by sequinned bustier gowns. We also saw contrast in the silhouettes themselves as athletic elements such as drawstrings and jersey fabrics were reworked through couture techniques.

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