Li Gong's 8ON8 Fall 2026 Collection in Shanghai Explores Surreal Narratives Through Fashion

During Shanghai Fashion Week, designer Li Gong presented the 8ON8 Fall 2026 collection titled 'Dual Adsorption.' The show featured garments inspired by a surreal story about a traveler encountering a garden with double-headed snails, which Gong described as stemming from spontaneous ideas aiming to blend reality with surrealism. Following the runway presentation, Gong displayed an installation as part of a creative direction competition, consisting of a cabin with a bed, clothing rails, and whimsical items like mushroom-shaped speakers and wooden trays on skate wheels. This setup contextualized the fashion show's eclectic aesthetic, characterized by absurd and naive elements that challenge conventional design. Key pieces included oversized turn-ups on pants, faux fur-trimmed leather jackets, and argyle waistcoats inflated to mimic snail shells. Other items incorporated gorpcore pockets, Asics sneakers, garden gnome hats, leopard-print overlays, pannier skirts, floral jacquard parkas, and knit emoji lattices, creating a mixed aesthetic reminiscent of video game visuals. The finale featured models walking to Leroy Gomez's song 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood,' suggesting themes of evasion and misunderstanding. The event highlighted Gong's approach to fashion as a narrative-driven, unconventional art form within the contemporary design landscape.