“This season is about momentum and evolution,” says designer Feng Chen Wang, ahead of her eponymous brand’s 10th-anniversary show at Shanghai Fashion Week (SHFW) Fall/Winter 2026.
As China’s fashion market recovers, that momentum is unfolding against a shifting backdrop. The Feng Chen Wang show sits within a broader recalibration: Chinese brands are sharpening both their creative identity and global positioning in response to a more selective market and increased international interest. “Shanghai is our home,” Wang says. “This moment feels like both a culmination and a new beginning.”
In a bid to balance regional heritage and global ambition, SHFW FW26 will feature both international names and younger domestic brands. Platforms like Tube Showroom, Not Showroom, and Labelhood will remain vital hubs where global buyers and independent voices intersect, while standout shows from emerging and established talents work to boost the week’s recognition.
Running from March 25 to April 1, the week will open with Shanghai-based brand HPLY’s runway debut. According to founder Huang Youlai, the show marks a strategic move for the label, as it focuses on building a cultural relevance that stands up to its commercial maturity.
Several other maturing brands, which are emblematic of China’s homegrown roster, will host runways throughout the week. Shanghai’s own Jacques Wei, known for its blend of Western tailoring and Mandarin sensibility, will show at 7.30pm on Friday. Also on Friday, 8ON8, founded by Central Saint Martins alumn Li Gong, will return with a runway rooted in technical fabrics and heritage craft, while Mark Gong, a Parsons graduate whose catwalks both at home and in New York are known conversation-starters, will show in the evening on Sunday.
