Shanghai is gearing up to once again captivate the global fashion stage with the commencement of its Autumn/Winter 2024 Fashion Week starting March 25. The event is poised to shine a spotlight on the city’s dynamic fashion economy, presenting an eclectic array of dynamic runway spectacles, immersive exhibitions, and thought-provoking forums.
Kicking off the sartorial celebration is the much-anticipated debut of Le Fame, a homegrown Shanghai brand renowned for intricately blending romantic vintage aesthetics with a contemporary Shanghainese femininity. Renowned for its skillful reimagining of Oriental eras, Le Fame’s showcase promises a nostalgic journey through time, reinterpreted with a modern fashion lens. This inaugural display sets the stage for a Fashion Week that not only showcases cutting-edge trends but also pays homage to the rich cultural tapestry of Shanghai.
Nic Su, co-founder, and design director of Le Fame, expressed, “The runway show stage will become more story-driven, shaping a trilogy of Shanghai modernity, expressing the diverse images of contemporary Shanghai women through clothing design, and conveying the exquisite Shanghai lifestyle.”
At the esteemed Xintiandi venue, attendees can anticipate the unveiling of highly anticipated collections, including COMME MOI by supermodel Lu Yan, and JUDYHUA renowned for its signature “soft sculpture” style. Independent brands exuding dreamy hues and experimental flair such as XIAOLI, alongside emerging designers like Louis Shengtao Chen, will also make their dazzling debut at Xintiandi.
A standout feature of the week is the emergence of the New Chinese Fashion trend, which seamlessly integrates traditional Chinese elements with contemporary design sensibilities, crafting a distinct and captivating style appreciated by both local and international audiences.
Designers are exploring traditional Chinese motifs such as intricate embroidery, silk fabrics, and traditional garment silhouettes, infusing them with a fresh and modern twist. This edition of Shanghai Fashion Week promises a showcase of diverse interpretations of the New Chinese Fashion trend.
Founder and design director of HEMU, Yang Fengrui, elaborated, “This trend is not merely a showcase of traditional culture, but more about fusion and innovation, a kind of cultural heritage.”
LABELHOOD, a platform dedicated to supporting young Chinese fashion designers, will host the Pioneer Fashion Art Festival under the theme “Return to Truth,” featuring collaborative efforts with 16 young, start-up designers to present the latest Fall/Winter 2024 collection.
Shanghai Fashion Week continues to solidify its position as “Asia’s largest ordering season.” This season’s trade fair will span the city’s five major central districts, hosting over 10 exhibitions and showrooms concurrently, welcoming both domestic and international clientele.
In terms of online promotion, Douyin Fashion will partner with high-quality creators and original designers to livestream daily, showcasing the latest works and offering insights into the front and backstage scenes. It also encourages high-quality creators to produce innovative content exploring sustainability, fashion-art crossovers, originality, trending colors, and styling tips.
Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Commission of Commerce, remarked, “After the pandemic, Shanghai Fashion Week has experienced a resurgence in popularity, paralleled by the revival of our consumer market.”
With Shanghai maintaining a significant 25 percent share of the total social retail sales volume from the clothing and apparel sector, amounting to 1.85 trillion yuan (US$257 billion) last year, the city reaffirms its status as an international consumption hub, leading fashion trends and defining styles with unwavering influence.
“Each season, Fashion Week gathers over a hundred brands for new product launches, with over a thousand platforms converging in Shanghai for purchasing orders. The ecosystem of Fashion Week is becoming increasingly robust, and its influence continues to grow,” Liu added.
