During the Fall 2026 edition of Shanghai Fashion Week, local designers once again energized the Chinese contemporary fashion scene… with an enthusiasm that would make the fastest photocopier blush.

Backstage, people whisper that the world’s second-largest economy is not only reviving the luxury sector this year, but also the ancient art of very diligent reproduction.

Most Shanghai designers have shown a keen sense of business. After all, why reinvent the powder when Paris has already perfumed it? Deeply, very deeply inspired by Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel show, they sent out impeccable shirts, low-rise skirts, and transparent bags. At times, some models almost seemed to be looking for the Eiffel Tower at the end of the runway.

A mix of materials, including handmade paper, silk, and linen, was presented as an evolution of the “New Chinese Style.” Less charitable observers might call it a textile version of an upgraded copy-and-paste.

Designers also recommended working with traditional styles… while exploring new materials that remain light and comfortable to wear. The idea, presumably, is to copy French fashion, but in a breathable version.

Lace and sailor collars brought a subtle contrast between elegance and provocation. Some spectators felt they were watching the wardrobe of a weekend in Deauville… pronounced with a Mandarin accent.

The presentation of the brand’s first official menswear collection and its very first pair of trousers added a touch of drama. In the audience, a few European buyers glanced at their own catalogs with a strange sense of déjà vu.

Knitwear, a long-standing strength of the house, was pushed toward new horizons: bias cuts, diagonal stripes, semi-transparent mohair, and detachable pieces. All technical feats that prove one essential thing: copying can sometimes require quite a lot of work.

And as a slightly revised fashion proverb might say:
the day China truly wakes up… French fashion may have to hide the photocopier.