Xu Zhi's Fall 2026 Shanghai Collection Blends Historical Protest Styles with Luxury Fashion

Designer Xu Zhi presented a fashion collection in Shanghai for Fall 2026, drawing inspiration from Western countercultural movements of the late 1950s to 1970s. The show opened with protest chants over the sound system, setting a tone that referenced themes of peace, love, and social progress. Designer Chen, speaking backstage, described the collection as an amalgamation of heroes from that era, aiming to revive their ideals for contemporary audiences. The garments incorporated elements from Beat, bohemian, rock, and hippie styles, reinterpreted through a luxury lens. Key pieces included a militarized jacket paired with a fringed maxi skirt, a model in a Lennon cap with leather trousers and a wool tunic, and recurring leopard prints on items like mohair cardigans and mousseline tops. Other notable looks featured paisley trenches, ruffled blouses, denim biker jackets, leather-piped wool cloaks, and embroidered waistcoats. The collection also included a menswear look with a double-belted military jacket in burgundy felt. Chen noted that some designs, particularly hand-beaded dresses with fringed inserts, stood out as original statements rather than direct references to past styles. The event took place in Shanghai as part of the Fall 2026 fashion season, highlighting how historical dissent aesthetics are transformed into nostalgic luxury fashion.