LABEL LOVER

Li Gong is on the fast track to becoming another illustrious alumnus of London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins, which has turned out a string of notable names in fashion. After graduating with a master’s degree in Menswear Fashion Design, the Shanghai-based designer earned his stripes as a pattern cutter under Xiao Li and Asa Zandition before establishing his own label, 8on8. A creative interpretation of his name, the brand has become known for its crisp tailoring and the use of jersey fabrics to make pieces that exude smartness and ease— something Li calls the “tailorporting style”. His first collection took inspiration from the Tweed Run, a mass bicycle ride in London whose participants wear vintage clothing, including ’70s suits. This became the embodiment of Li’s aesthetic—the cross-section between traditional suiting and outdoor fabrics. Li won the LVMH Grand Prix for Design and the 2017 Young Talent Award from Lane Crawford, which enabled him to show at Shanghai Fashion Week for the first time in October 2017. His collection included plaid trousers with panels resembling biker spandex on the inner thighs, fitted joggers and jackets with structured shoulders and zipper details.