Asia Fashion Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 65 Week of 18 May 2026
(1) Manchester United Debuts Custom Adidas Chinese New Year Jacket
Manchester United’s new Adidas pre-match jacket, styled with Chinese design elements, is facing split opinion. Some fans praised it and rushed to buy it, while others mocked its look. Despite the backlash, the jacket is selling strongly, showing how culture inspired sportswear can spark both controversy and commercial demand.
Everlane is being acquired by Shein in a deal that sharply contrasts the two brands’ identities. Once known for ethical, minimalist retail, Everlane has struggled with debt and criticism. The sale underscores the decline of a millennial direct to consumer model and raises fresh questions as Shein faces legal scrutiny.
The 2026 China Italy Cultural Tourism and Fashion Brand Forum in Beijing highlighted growing cooperation in tourism, fashion, design and cultural services. Held alongside CIFTIS, the event brought together officials and businesses from both countries to explore market opportunities, strengthen brand partnerships and deepen longer term commercial and cultural ties.
(4) Chinese fast fashion rivals Shein and Temu clash over copyright
Shein and Temu’s legal fight also reflects the fierce pressures reshaping fast fashion. At the centre is control over design, product images and trend driven clothing, as Chinese online retailers compete to produce styles faster, cheaper and at greater scale, while raising fresh questions about originality, copying and fashion’s creative value.
(1) Manchester United Debuts Custom Adidas Chinese New Year Jacket
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Sports and fashion have a history of both iconic hits and embarrassing misses, and Manchester United’s collaboration with Adidas is the latest to divide public opinion. The club recently debuted a grey, Chinese-inspired pre-match jacket that swaps the traditional tracksuit silhouette for a martial arts aesthetic. Made of suede-like fabric, the garment features a mandarin collar and “frog” knot buttons, prominently displaying the “Red Devil” crest alongside the Adidas Trefoil logo.
The reaction to the jacket has been a study in cultural contrasts. On platforms like Weibo, many fans praised the design as a “huge win” for the club, with many eager to purchase the item immediately. However, the reception was not universally positive. Some critics described the design as tacky or ugly, with one commentator noting the “mortuary colors” reminded them of traditional burial garments. This sharp divide highlights a bizarre trend where international tourists view the jacket as a “must-buy” souvenir, while some local observers remain skeptical of its aesthetic.
Despite the mixed reviews, the jacket appears to be a commercial success. Stocks of a non-Adidas-branded version sold out quickly in North America, and a limited release is already planned for Japan. For the sports retail sector, this move signals the power of “China-inspired” branding to generate massive social media engagement. Whether it is seen as a high-fashion statement or a cultural misstep, Manchester United has successfully placed itself at the center of a global conversation on how sports teams can tap into regional heritage.
(Photo Credit: The San Francisco Standard)
Everlane, the San Francisco clothing brand built on minimalist design and promises of ethical production, is being acquired by Shein in a deal that marks a striking shift in ownership and identity. Reports say the sale values Everlane at about $100 million, far below the heights it reached during the e commerce boom.
Founded in 2010, Everlane won a loyal following by promoting “radical transparency” and appealing to shoppers who wanted clean design with a conscience. But that image became harder to sustain over time. The company faced criticism over alleged greenwashing, struggled during the pandemic, and was hit by layoffs, labour disputes and claims of racism. Rising rates and tighter venture funding added further pressure, leaving the business burdened with heavy debt.
The sale is seen as an exit shaped largely by liabilities, with reports saying common shareholders will receive nothing. For many customers and former staff, the deal feels symbolic as well as financial. Everlane long represented a polished, millennial era of direct to consumer branding, while Shein is closely associated with ultra-fast fashion and mass volume.
The acquisition also comes as Shein faces mounting legal and regulatory scrutiny in the United States, adding another layer of controversy to a deal that has unsettled many loyal Everlane supporters.
News Source: https://sfstandard.com/2026/05/19/everlane-shein-sale-sf/
(Photo Credit: Image generated with AI/TTW)
The 2026 China Italy Cultural Tourism and Fashion Brand Forum was held in Beijing as a supporting event of the China International Fair for Trade in Services, highlighting closer cooperation between the two countries in cultural tourism, fashion, design and related service industries. The event reflected a broader effort to use CIFTIS as a platform for strengthening cross border business links and expanding trade in services between China and Italy.
According to organisers, the forum brought together government representatives, industry groups and companies from both countries for discussions on market opportunities, brand cooperation and practical partnerships. It focused on sectors where China and Italy both have strong interests, including cultural tourism, high end fashion and classic design, while also linking those industries to the digital economy and cultural services.
The programme included speeches, panel discussions, media dialogue, promotion sessions and networking activities designed to support deeper engagement between businesses and institutions. Organisers said the forum aimed to help participating companies enter each other’s markets more effectively, strengthen brand visibility and encourage greater cultural exchange.
More broadly, the forum underscored how China and Italy are trying to build longer term cooperation in creative industries, using trade, culture and design as channels for deeper commercial and people to people ties.
(4) Elon Musk’s son X Æ A-Xii sparks fashion craze with traditional Chinese-style vest, tiger-head bag
(Photo Credit: International THE NEWS)
Elon Musk’s son, known as Lil X, has unexpectedly helped ignite an online fashion trend after appearing in traditional Chinese inspired clothing during the high-profile summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Interest surged after footage showed the six-year-old at the Great Hall of the People wearing a Chinese style vest and carrying a handmade tiger head bag.
The clip gained wide attention after Musk shared it online, saying his son was learning Mandarin. Social media users quickly focused on the child’s outfit, praising its distinctive look and the way he carried it. Chinese journalist Shen Shiwei later amplified the discussion by highlighting the cultural details of the clothing and accessories.
According to Chinese state media, the tiger head bag was created by ethnic minority artisans in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The accessory draws on the design of the traditional tiger head doll, a symbol tied to Chinese folk heritage and craftsmanship.
The online attention soon translated into commercial demand. Reports said sales of the tiger head bag doubled after the video spread online, with the item now selling for RMB 338. The light blue Chinese style vest also began trending on e-commerce platforms, with some versions priced at about RMB 970.
