What people picture when they hear “Chinese clothing” and what actually ships out of China’s independent design studios in 2026 are two very different things. The mass-market clié is fading fast. In its place is a generation of small, fiercely specific labels — some run by a single designer out of Shanghai or Chengdu, some with cult followings that sell through a drop in minutes — that have quietly become some of the most interesting names in fashion, full stop.
Sorting the signal from the noise is more or less our whole job. So here is a field guide to the Chinese clothing brands worth knowing this year: what each one actually does well, and who it is for.
13DE MARZO — playful luxury, with a teddy bear
If you have seen a fur teddy-bear charm with a single glassy tear hanging off someone’s bag, you have already met 13DE MARZO. The Shanghai label built a whole world around that motif and turned it into a genuine luxury-streetwear crossover — tailored coats and soft knits carrying just enough mischief to stop you taking them too seriously. It is the brand to reach for when you want something quietly expensive-looking with a wink built in. Explore 13DE MARZO →
CROSSQUEEN — romance with a corset spine
CROSSQUEEN has been having a moment, and the search traffic proves it. The appeal is a very particular kind of femininity: corsetry, ribbon, lace and a slightly gothic edge, cut close and made to be noticed. These are the dresses and tops you buy for the photo you already know you are going to take. Explore CROSSQUEEN →
BUM STUDIO — streetwear that refuses to be serious
On the other end of the mood board sits BUM STUDIO: graphic, kitsch, and gleefully unbothered. Keyhole crop tees, low-rise buckle skirts, cheeky prints — it is the wardrobe of someone who dresses for their own amusement first. If your feed is equal parts Y2K nostalgia and internet humour, this is your aisle. Explore BUM STUDIO →
SOMESOWE — soft, whimsical, quietly everywhere
SOMESOWE trades in softness: pearl trims, gentle knits, and the kind of character detailing — yes, including a now much-loved dachshund tee — that reads sweet without tipping into twee. It is one of the most-viewed names on the site right now, and the pieces have a way of becoming the thing you actually reach for on a normal Tuesday. Explore SOMESOWE →
2TH DESIRE — the bag people keep asking about
Every season one accessory quietly takes over, and this one belongs to 2TH DESIRE. Its vintage woven shoulder bag and studded wide-strap crossbody have been among our best-sellers for weeks — the sort of textured, lived-in bags that make a plain outfit look considered. Start here if you build looks from the accessory out. Explore 2TH DESIRE →
VIA PITTI & 1JINN STUDIO — the new Chinese knitwear
Two names to watch if your weakness is a good knit. VIA PITTI leans Italian in spirit — detachable collars, plaid cropped sweaters, pieces engineered to be worn two ways. 1JINN STUDIO is more architectural, building bolero shrugs and matching sets that treat knitwear like tailoring. Between them they cover most of what a cold-weather wardrobe actually needs. Explore VIA PITTI → · Explore 1JINN STUDIO →
And a few more worth your time
The bench is deep. 24ANS makes the convertible, detachable-leg boots that keep selling out; LACEMADE owns tailored longline coats and soft romance; VERYRAREME, VOCK, AsGony and OFAKIVA each bring their own take on the moodier, more directional end of the spectrum.
So what ties them together?
Not a house style — these brands could not look more different from one another. What they share is a sensibility, the thing people have started calling “China-side” style: heritage references worn lightly, streetwear instincts, an eye for the odd, charming detail, and a refusal to play it safe. It is less a trend than a point of view, and right now it is one of the most exciting in fashion.
The catch has always been access — most of these labels are small, and finding them meant hunting across a dozen sites in a language you might not read. That is the gap CHINASQUAD exists to close: every brand above, curated in one place, shipped worldwide. See what just landed →
