H&M continues its Chinese Designer Collaboration Project with a second season developed together with Shanghai Fashion Week and JACQUES WEI. Campaign introduces a collection conceived for Chinese New Year 2026, guided by the symbolism of the Year of the Horse.
Color defines the visual direction: bright red, dark camel brown, agate grey, and moonlight blue establish an Eastern-influenced palette that conveys restraint and grace. Horse motifs appear through graphic prints composed of fluid lines that animate calm base tones. Clean silhouettes and measured proportions shape the garments, balancing structured construction with expressive detailing.
The range revisits established forms: halter tops, maxi slip dresses, slit skirts finished with fringe, pullovers, shirts, trousers, suiting sets, and selected pieces structure the offering. Signature animal prints recur throughout the collection, supported by beading, fringe elements, and metallic details set against soft materials. Lustrous halter tops and slip dresses rely on delicate ties to shape the body, while metallic horse-shaped buckles define the neckline. A fringed skirt mirrors the texture of a horse’s mane through repeated surface detailing. A cropped jacket carries flowing horse patterns combined with structured tailoring, and a blazer with metallic buttons presents sharp lines accented by horse-head clasps.
Accessories extend the same structural approach. Necklaces, brooches, and wide openwork bracelets depict the horse through streamlined outlines suited to everyday wear. A saddle-shaped shoulder bag uses structured materials to form a sculptural silhouette softened by curved edges. A chain belt incorporates metallic motifs of the horse, sun, and swallow, drawing inspiration from the traditional Chinese image “Galloping Horse and Flying Swallow” through a contemporary design language.
Jacques Donghui Wei, Founder and Designer of JACQUES WEI, said the collection takes direct inspiration from the zodiac horse. He explained that the project brings together the design language of JACQUES WEI and H&M with a focus on Eastern culture. Colors, fabrics, structures, and tailoring work together to introduce zodiac symbolism and festive tones into clothing designed for modern women. He described the result as a collection created to feel artistic while remaining suitable for daily wear, with the intention of offering a fresh fashion experience to consumers.
Sara Gydal Lindquist, Manager of the H&M Asia Design Hub, described the collaboration with JACQUES WEI as highly engaging. She pointed to his approach to combining Eastern and Western aesthetics as a defining element of the project. According to Lindquist, the collection brings the Chinese zodiac into everyday clothing, and H&M looks forward to presenting these designs to a broad audience.
The collection will be available from January 21 via HM.COM.CN and the H&M T-mall Flagship Store, followed by a January 22 release in selected H&M stores in Mainland China.
