Susan Fang's Shanghai Show: Future Meets Fairy Tale

Susan Fang recently unveiled her Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, titled 'Air-Infinity,' at Shanghai Fashion Week. The Chinese-born designer's show featured her signature whimsical aesthetic, characterized by bows, frills, and 3-D printed flowers. The collection delves into profound themes, questioning capitalism and exploring the concept of infinity, symbolized by the number eight. Elements from various fashion eras, including the 1950s and 60s, vintage ski jackets, and Victorian aero shapes, were reimagined with futuristic footwear.

The 'Air-Infinity' collection also incorporates experimental designs inspired by AI and ASCII code, playing with the perception of virtual versus real life. A significant highlight was the collaboration with Melissa Shoes, resulting in unique 3-D printed footwear. These shoes feature a transparent-to-opaque color gradient and are adorned with flowers, a symbol of good luck, love, and fortune in China. Fang expressed her long-held desire to collaborate with Melissa, culminating in a design that she initially wished she had created for her own wedding.

Fang described her ideal customer as someone passionate about nature, culture, travel, and life, seeking harmony and lightness. Her design process often involves recreating fleeting feelings and memories into fabric. The decision to show in Shanghai was influenced by personal beliefs, with her fortuneteller advising it was auspicious for her birth chart this season. The collection's aesthetic also draws parallels to desserts and cakes, symbolizing extreme desire and ambition, while the concept of history repeating itself offers a sense of comfort and the inevitability of change.