Asia Fashion Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 58 Week of 30 March 2026
(1) Jonathan Anderson’s military jacket reigns at Dior, as Greta Lee and Zendaya salute the trend too
Jonathan Anderson’s opulent Napoleonic hussar jackets at Dior, seen on Greta Lee’s Vogue cover and runways with modern twists like cargo shorts, lead a revived military trend across McQueen, Ann Demeulemeester, and Armani.
(2) Is intelligence chic? South Korea sees the rise of the ‘poetcore’ fashion trend
Poetcore, a top 2026 Pinterest trend, brings introspective fashion with high-neck blouses, pleated skirts, cable knits, and soft palettes, paralleled by South Korea’s “text hip” making reading stylish.
(3) Will plant-based fur change how luxury fashion approaches sustainability?
BioFluff’s Savian, a 100% plant-based, plastic-free fur from hemp, flax, and nettle, replaces animal and synthetic alternatives with lower emissions and biodegradability, debuting on Stella McCartney, Collina Strada, Martine Rose, and Louis Vuitton runways amid global fur bans.
(4) A fashion insider’s guide to Shanghai, China
Shanghai thrives as a fashion hub via Shanghai Fashion Week, Moncler’s ‘City of Genius’, and designers like Cheney Chan, Ao Yes, Feng Chen Wang, and Shushu/Tong mixing heritage with innovation.
(1) Jonathan Anderson’s military jacket reigns at Dior, as Greta Lee and Zendaya salute the trend too
(Photo Credit: Handout)
Jonathan Anderson’s vision for Dior prominently features the opulent Napoleonic hussar jacket, adorned with frogging, gold buttons, and embroidery, reimagined as a modern wardrobe staple, as seen on Greta Lee’s American Vogue cover and his debut men’s show pairing it with cargo shorts inspired by Dior’s 1948 Delft dress.
This military motif echoes across recent runways: Seán McGirr’s cream-cropped versions at McQueen with bikinis and low-rise trousers, Ann Demeulemeester’s dark romantic takes over floral dresses, and Giorgio Armani’s fitted styles layered with voluminous trousers and ruffles. Designers like Vivienne Westwood, who subverted military tailoring in punk collections now showcased alongside Rei Kawakubo at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, and Hedi Slimane’s indie sleaze era at Dior Homme have long drawn on its rigour and symbolism.
British GQ style editor Mahalia Chang champions the jacket’s fussy yet sleek appeal, calling it a character-building piece with historical heft that luxury directors naturally revive in fashion’s cyclical nature. Celebrities amplify the trend, Jenna Ortega styled a sleeveless Dior version with denim shorts, Zendaya layered a metallic coat at Louis Vuitton, while Dua Lipa, Caleb McLaughlin, and Jay Chou embrace it across genders. Mytheresa’s Sophie Jordan suggests smart pairings like a Burberry trench over a Zegna jacket with Dries Van Noten boots or a Rick Owens blazer for edge.
Chang advises smoothing accessories, black trousers and loafers, to let the jacket shine, or mixing eras with 1970s glasses or noughties bags to dodge costumey vibes, urging wearers to embrace fashion’s joyful self-expression.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3347532/jonathan-andersons-military-jacket-reigns-dior-greta-lee-and-zendaya-salute-trend-too?pgtype=live
(2) Is intelligence chic? South Korea sees the rise of the ‘poetcore’ fashion trend
(Photo Credit: Instagram/Jennie)
A quiet, introspective mood called “poetcore” is reshaping 2026 fashion, favouring high-neck blouses, pleated skirts, cable knits, and tailored blazers in soft textures and muted palettes over bold statements. Identified by Pinterest as a top trend, it embraces loosened silhouettes, vintage fabrics, and deliberate ease—like clothing that whispers poetry rather than shouts trends. Consumers increasingly express inner identity through versatile layering, moving away from rigid styles, as one industry official noted.
Sales reflect the shift: Mixxo’s pullovers, a poetcore staple, surged 40 percent year-on-year in January, prompting expanded V-neck and argyle knits for semi-oversized shirt layering. Natural, intellectual moods drive demand for wide denim and oversized shirts. Dunst launched mix-and-match staples like trench coats and chore jackets in lively reds, olives, and pigment-dyed jerseys, while Uniqlo’s Spring/Summer 2026 offers soft knits in sky blue and powder lilac for tonal dressing. Arket draws from Nordic waterscapes for relaxed, fluid fits.
Parallel to poetcore, South Korea’s “text hip” reframes reading as stylish, boosting demand for reading goods and stationery on platforms like 29CM. Gen Z copies passages by hand and shares logs online. Beauty aligns with minimal makeup enhancing natural texture, muted blush and lips, prioritising editing over excess, per The Saem.
(3) Will plant-based fur change how luxury fashion approaches sustainability?
(Photo Credit: The New York Times)
BioFluff, co-founded in 2023 by Roni Gamzon, bioengineer Martin Stubler (who exited), and textile recycler Steven Usdan, produces Savian, the world’s first 100% plant-based, plastic-free fur, shearling, and fleece from fibers like hemp, flax, nettle, and silk, addressing animal welfare and polyester’s environmental harms. Inspired by Gamzon’s childhood faux-fur coat, Savian mimics textures like Dalmatian spots or Wolfy fur using retrofitted Italian mills near Florence, offering shine, softness, and puffiness designers crave.
Debuted at COP28 with Stella McCartney’s black coat, Savian featured in Ganni’s Bou bag prototypes and runways: Collina Strada’s A/W 2026 hoods, muffs, and coats; Martine Rose’s detachable collars and party sleeves; Louis Vuitton’s Wolfy vest; and Croquis menswear. A third-party assessment shows 75% lower carbon emissions than plastic fur, full biodegradability in years (versus centuries for synthetics), and industrial composting in 12 weeks.
Amid fur bans at Kering (2022), fashion weeks like London (2023), Copenhagen, NYFW (September 2026), and Emmys red carpet, BioFluff opens a Paris showroom. Competitors like Ecopel’s Flur (nettle-based, paused) and Stella’s Bio Fur exist, but Savian avoids bioplastics. Critics note fur’s small market share limits impact without cheap scaling against fast fashion.
Gamzon eyes plush toys next, optimistic for stronger A/W adoption despite creative director shifts.
News Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2026/03/27/will-plant-based-fur-change-how-luxury-fashion-approaches-sustainability
(4) A fashion insider’s guide to Shanghai, China
(Photo Credit: Nawang Cahyani)
Shanghai has emerged as a dynamic fashion hub, fueled by standout Shanghai Fashion Week shows, Moncler’s 2024 ‘City of Genius’ spectacle in the historic Huangpu River shipyard, and viral runway moments from Mark Gong’s modern housewife aesthetic to StaffOnly’s digital distortions. Designers like Cheney Chan with theatrical couture, Ao Yes blending tradition and modernity, Feng Chen Wang’s heritage-driven innovation, and Shushu/Tong’s playful girlhood silhouettes are redefining contemporary wardrobes with intricate draping and Chinese motifs, alongside a wave of undiscovered hole-in-the-wall gems.
French-Chinese model Angie Marqueton, a Shanghai style insider after three years in the city, reveals locals’ chic simplicity hides meticulous details, fueling her experimental wardrobe stocked with fun Chinese labels: HuDieGongZhu for whimsy, quirky Emo Salad accessories, and anime-inspired CfFierce. She shares must-visit hotspots blending fashion, lifestyle, and creativity.
Haus Shanghai on Huaihai Road dazzles across four floors with Gentle Monster, Tamburins, Nudake desserts, and trippy exhibitions amid buzzing designer boutiques. Xian Suo Creative Park at Yanping Road houses emerging designers’ jewelry, clothes, furniture, bars, vinyl shops, bookstores, and sustainable spots like Connais Toi carrying Peter Do, Lemaire, and Niccolò Pasqualetti. Labelhood on Fumin Road launches talents like Jacques Wei and Mark Gong, stocking Shushu/Tong, Louis Shengtao Chen, skincare, and homeware. Psycho Cycle nearby curates Y2K hyper-feminine picks for subversive cool girls.
News Source: https://vogue.sg/fashion-insider-shopping-guide-shanghai/
