Sandy Liang’s SS26 Is a Love Letter to Childhood Mementos
Embracing a girly and modern “Chinatown grandma” aesthetic.
Summary
- Sandy Liang’s SS26 collection explores self-creation through childhood objects, celebrating personal history and the power of nostalgia
- Key pieces include Tabi shoes with dancing bunnies and skirts with PVC pouches bearing childhood mementos, while care-tags bear handwritten mantras
Inspired by the concept of self-creation, Sandy Liang‘s Spring/Summer 2026 collection is a playful exploration of the line between reality and fantasy. Drawing on inspirations as varied as Huguette Clark’s miniature dollhouses, Studio Ghibli’s Arrietty, and life-sim games like The Sims, Liang transforms everyday objects into sartorial leitmotifs. The collection is an ode to a new generation, celebrating the idea that style is less about what you wear and more about how you assemble yourself, turning even the smallest, most personal items into a statement of who you are.
The collection introduces a whimsical array of elements, from updated Tabi shoes featuring dancing bunnies and spring onions to floral princess dresses with distinct “Princess Seams.” Liang’s signature ballet shoes are reimagined as pink and black purses, showcasing her unique approach to transforming beloved objects. These looks pay homage to a modern “Chinatown grandma” ethos: it’s not what you wear, but how you put yourself together.
Cherished possessions take center stage in unexpected displays. Buttery skirts feature built-in PVC pouches that showcase childhood mementos, as if to put childhood moments on display. A sense of playful exaggeration is evident in details like a huge lost button reappearing on the tip of a shoe and clear slippers covered in stickers, where obsession for the mundane creates something singular and extraordinary.
The collection’s narrative continues in its oversized care tags — more daily planner than garment instruction — inscribed with handwritten mantras like “Ah, forgive me for my 1st kiss” and “Be present and remember, always speak to yourself kindly.” These intimate reminders speak to the gap between how the world sees you and who you truly are, inviting playfulness within that space. Overall, Sandy Liang’s SS26 collection is a nostalgic yet forward-looking celebration of personal history, self-expression, and the power of cherished objects to define who we are.
