Shushu/Tong Explores Deconstruction and Texture in Spring 2026 Collection
Shanghai Fashion Week saw Shushu/Tong designers Liushu “Shushu” Lei and Yutong “Tong Tong” Jiang present a collection centered around the question: “What is left after beauty decays?” The Spring 2026 showing marked a deliberate departure for the brand, known for its polished and refined aesthetic.
The designers indicated a desire to challenge their established design codes, resulting in a collection that incorporated unexpected fabrications and a more nuanced approach to silhouette. Where previous collections featured structured peplums in heavier materials like wool crepe, the new line utilized multiple layers of lightweight cotton, treated with dyes to evoke a sense of age and patina.
A notable shift involved the use of leather for traditionally softer shapes. Body-conscious designs, previously rendered in flowing fabrics, were reimagined in tailored leather cocktail dresses and paneled skirts. Similarly, lace dresses were presented layered over contrasting undergarments, creating a deliberate interplay of textures and revealing a more unconventional sensibility.
The collection also featured looser-fitting sheath dresses, styled with visible colorful brassieres or cropped knit sweaters, further emphasizing a move away from the brand’s typically prim and proper image. This season’s presentation arrives as both Shushu/Tong and key industry incubator Labelhood celebrate notable milestones – ten years and twenty seasons respectively – solidifying Shushu/Tong’s position as a leading and influential force within Shanghai’s burgeoning fashion scene. The designers acknowledged pushing creative boundaries, citing their decade of established work as providing a solid foundation for experimentation.
