Shuting Qiu had planned to return to Milan Fashion Week last month after showing in Paris the previous season. However, unforeseen circumstances led to the cancellation of her scheduled presentation. Now back in Shanghai, she made her return to Shanghai Fashion Week with an off-calendar showcase of her new collection at the Consulate General of Belgium. The event took over the residence’s ground floor and garden, complete with Belgian waffles.

For Qiu, it was a meaningful homecoming. A graduate of Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, she debuted her first show there in 2022. Returning to Shanghai Fashion Week after a few years away felt natural. “It’s good to come back to Shanghai, to express my creativity and reconnect with my roots and community here,” she said.

This season, Qiu drew inspiration from her travels to Indonesia, blending its vibrant energy with the soft, watercolor tones of her hometown, Hangzhou, and the dramatic landscapes of Xinjiang—a region along the ancient Silk Road. Known for her exquisite fabric choices, she outdid herself this time with shimmering tweeds for structured coats and striking metallic floral jacquards for dresses and blouses.

Qiu shines when she leans into her playful side, mixing textures, prints, and colors with a distinct flair that sets her apart among Shanghai designers. Evening wear remains her forte, and while her tailoring and ready-to-wear aren’t quite as polished as her cocktail dresses, her menswear showed promise this season. A standout was a bold red double-sided jacket, worn by the Belgian consul with high-waisted suiting shorts—though the lightweight fabric of the shorts slightly missed the mark. Still, it’s a direction worth exploring as Qiu continues her global creative journey.