Asia Fashion Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 54 Week of 2 March 2026
(1) Warm winter no match: China’s sportswear sector posts surprise growth
China’s sportswear sector rebounded in early 2026, with retail sales growing over 5% year-on-year in the first two months, beating expectations despite a warm winter. Strong Chinese New Year demand, policy support, and visibility at the Winter Olympics boosted domestic giants Li Ning and Anta, prompting analysts to turn more positive.
(2) The Steph Curry Effect: Why an NBA icon is closing in on a historic move to China’s Anta
Stephen Curry quietly ended his 12-year partnership with Under Armour in late 2025, entering sneaker free agency. He has been spotted wearing Anta sneakers, fueling speculation of a deal with the Chinese brand. This reflects the rising influence of Anta and Li-Ning in the NBA through high-profile signings.
(3) Fashion designer Shangguan Zhe on pushing boundaries and breaking habits to stay ahead
Hong Kong designer Victoria Tang-Owen explores what defines elite creativity in fashion by visiting Shangguan Zhe of Sankuanz in Shanghai. The designer shares his long-term thematic approach, cultural inspiration from the Himalayas, and belief that true elites push boundaries through talent, hard work, and breaking habitual thinking via travel.
(4) Why Milan Fashion Week matters for brands like Fila China
Fila returned to Milan Fashion Week on March 1 with its Fall/Winter 2026 “Milano in Motion” show, marking its 115th anniversary. Held at La Pelota in Brera, the collection blended athletic heritage with luxury tailoring and introduced the Sleek sneaker line, available immediately at 10 Corso Como.
(1) Warm winter no match: China’s sportswear sector posts surprise growth
(Photo Credit: Xinhua)
China’s sportswear industry showed unexpected resilience in early 2026, shrugging off weak consumer spending and unseasonably warm weather. Retail sales rose more than 5% year-on-year in January and February, accelerating sharply from a flat fourth quarter of 2025, according to Jefferies analysts. The pickup was driven by Lunar New Year spending, fresh government support for sports facilities, and heightened interest in the Winter Olympics, where local brands Li Ning and Anta gained prominent exposure.
Jefferies turned positive on the sector for the first time in 12 months, calling the performance a “positive surprise” given the warm winter’s usual drag on down-jacket sales. Online sales surged 20% year-on-year in January, with Li Ning up 24% and Anta’s core brand up 20%. Government promotion of activities like badminton further supported demand for related products.
Domestic brands have steadily gained market share from international rivals in recent years, accelerated by the 2021 Xinjiang cotton controversy and a broader consumer shift toward affordable local labels amid economic cooling. Anta and Li Ning, however, reported sequential slowdowns in late 2025, prompting cautious guidance from management.
Analysts like Charlotte Zhou at CGS International noted a “marginal improvement” tied to spring collections offsetting winter weakness. SPDB International’s Richard Lin observed that peak seasons are strengthening while off-seasons weaken, suggesting the early 2026 momentum may reflect seasonal patterns rather than a sustained turnaround. Longer-term trends will require further monitoring.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3345011/warm-winter-no-match-chinas-sportswear-sector-posts-surprise-growth?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article
(2) The Steph Curry Effect: Why an NBA icon is closing in on a historic move to China’s Anta
(Photo Credit: You Fang / VCG via Getty Images)
Stephen Curry’s 2026 sneaker free agency marks a major turning point in the global basketball shoe market. After ending his long partnership with Under Armour, Curry’s potential move to Anta, a Chinese sportswear giant, has captured enormous attention. His on-court appearance in Anta sneakers signaled that a shift is underway, with a superstar possibly stepping away from traditional U.S. powerhouses like Nike and Adidas. If finalized, such a deal would symbolize a milestone moment, showing that Chinese brands are ready to challenge long-standing Western dominance in the sport’s commercial and cultural arenas.
Chinese companies like Anta and Li-Ning have gradually built influence in the NBA over the past decade. Starting with smaller player deals, they have since attracted major names such as Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Dwyane Wade. These partnerships have gone beyond sponsorships, many athletes now take creative or ambassadorial roles, reflecting deeper cultural collaboration. The result is a growing list of stars wearing Chinese-made sneakers, transforming them from niche products into statements of identity and credibility on the global stage.
Anta has emerged as China’s flagship sportswear brand and is ambitiously expanding worldwide. With strong domestic sales and strategic acquisitions, the company aims to become a global leader, not just a local powerhouse. Its approach blends cultural storytelling with sports performance, aligning with players who share that vision. As Nike and Adidas face slowing momentum in China, local competitors are seizing new ground in both market share and cultural relevance. This evolving landscape shows that basketball sneakers are no longer just about athletic performance. They reflect a larger shift in global influence, creativity, and confidence.
News ource: https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/sports/nba-stephen-curry-anta-sneaker-free-agency-chinese-brands-anta
(3) Fashion designer Shangguan Zhe on pushing boundaries and breaking habits to stay ahead
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
Hong Kong-based fashion designer and creative director Victoria Tang-Owen is investigating what sets elite individuals apart in their fields. In her latest exploration, she travels to Shanghai to meet Shangguan Zhe, founder of the Chinese label Sankuanz, known for its conceptual streetwear since its 2013 launch.
At Sankuanz’s new flagship store in Xuhui district, Shangguan explains his creative process: he establishes a broad guiding theme that can span four to five seasons, or two to three years, allowing each collection to examine the theme from fresh angles. The spring/summer 2026 collection draws from Himalayan cultures, continuing an influence seen in recent lines. Rather than directly copying traditional forms, he studies the “why” behind choices like materials, then translates those principles into a minimalist modern design language that aligns with his aesthetic.
Travel plays a key role in refreshing his perspective. Shangguan believes urban life fosters rigid habits that stifle creativity. Exposure to unpredictable cultures and experiences abroad disrupts those patterns, introducing new ideas and possibilities.
When asked what makes someone elite, Shangguan replies that it is the ability to combine talent and hard work to push boundaries further, expanding what’s possible for oneself and others.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/topics/elite-equation/article/3342886/fashion-designer-shangguan-zhe-pushing-boundaries-and-breaking-habits-stay-ahead
(4) Why Milan Fashion Week matters for brands like Fila China
(Photo Credit: Fila)
Fila marked its return to the official Milan Fashion Week schedule on March 1 with the Fall/Winter 2026 runway presentation “Milano in Motion,” coinciding with the brand’s 115th anniversary. The show took place at La Pelota, a former indoor sports venue in Milan’s Brera district, where dynamic light structures evoked the pulse of an urban environment.
The collection featured 58 looks that merged sportswear functionality with elevated tailoring and premium materials. Technical fabrics like Gore-Tex appeared in structured outerwear, complemented by wool-nylon blends, detachable trench coats, and pleated skirts for a balance of performance and daily wear. Footwear was central, with many outfits styled with the new Sleek sneaker line: lightweight, low-profile designs incorporating athletic ergonomics and ballet-inspired silhouettes.
Adopting a see-now-buy-now model, the runway pieces and Sleek sneakers launched immediately at a temporary retail installation in Milan’s 10 Corso Como concept store.
The presentation drew a high-profile audience, including global ambassador Han So-hee, actresses Shu Qi and Sun Qian, Chinese athletes Ling Zhi and Liu Guanyi, model Barbara Palvin, actor Dylan Sprouse, and Chinese fashion KOLs such as Mark Long, Fil Xiaobai, Michelle Song, Angelene Sun, Cristine Sun, plus commentators Susie Lau and Bryan Yambao.
Under Anta’s ownership since 2009, Fila has expanded dramatically in Greater China, growing from fewer than 50 stores to nearly 2,000 by 2024. The Milan show reinforces Fila’s strategy of leveraging its Italian heritage while positioning itself as a premium global sportswear-fashion hybrid.
News Source: https://jingdaily.com/posts/why-milan-fashion-week-matters-for-brands-like-fila-china
