Shuting Qiu’s Fall/Winter 2025–2026 collection arrives as a deeply personal return—both creatively and geographically. Presented off-calendar during Shanghai Fashion Week at the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Belgium, the show marked a meaningful homecoming for the designer, who is once again based in Shanghai after an anticipated, but ultimately postponed, Milan Fashion Week presentation.

The setting was rich with symbolism. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Qiu held her first Shanghai show at the same consulate in 2022. Her decision to return to this venue reflects a desire to reconnect with her roots and reaffirm her place within China’s evolving fashion narrative.

For this season, Qiu’s design language expanded through the lens of her travels, seamlessly blending the bold vibrancy of Indonesia with the muted, painterly tones of her native Hangzhou. The collection also drew atmospheric inspiration from the landscapes of Xinjiang, channeling the cultural depth of this historic Silk Road region.

Materiality stood at the forefront. Iridescent tweeds structured tailored coats and jackets, while metallic floral jacquards transformed dresses and blouses into luminous statements. Qiu’s signature aesthetic—an expressive mix of texture, pattern, and color—remains her most recognizable trait, delivering a sense of whimsy anchored in sophistication.

While her mastery of contemporary eveningwear is well established, this collection signaled a notable shift in her menswear direction. A standout moment came as the Belgian consul donned a crimson double-sided jacket paired with high-waisted shorts—suggesting the designer’s menswear evolution may soon take center stage.

Shuting Qiu’s FW25/26 collection is more than a presentation; it is a layered dialogue between place, memory, and craft. A bold exploration of identity through fabric and form, it reaffirms her global vision while celebrating a return to the roots that shaped it.