COS Celebrates Chinese New Year With The Launch Of A Chic Capsule Collection In Shanghai
Launched on 23 January in a special pop-up in Tianhou Palace, the considered collection offers subtle nods to the New Year in a way that feels contemporary and very COS.
By Renee Batchelor - published
It was a chilly winter’s night in Shanghai when guests gathered in the Tianhou Palace for the launch party of COS’ capsule spring festival collection. Set amidst towering skyscrapers, the location—a former temple to Mazu (the goddess of the sea) turned exhibition space and an endearing cultural landmark—perfectly encapsulated the modern versus traditional vibe of Shanghai. It was the right setting for the launch, where modernity found its place alongside tradition.
The COS pop-up at Tianhou Palace
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The COS Spring Festival Pop-Up Event
Setting the scene was an interactive red maple leaf wishing tree right in the centre of the Palace square. Guests were invited to write and hang their well wishes and hopes for the upcoming New Year—more commonly known as the Spring Festival in China. In attendance, well-dressed guests in their cold weather best, including the who’s who of the Shanghai scene, social media influencers, as well as local and regional press.
The exclusive COS Spring Festival pop-up in Tianhou Palace ran from 23 to 26 January 2026. Modelled after a Chinese teahouse imagined through a contemporary lens, the brand also organised tea-themed activities for visitors including tea painting and tea tasting, as well as a closer IRL look at the limited edition collection that launched in selected COS stores and online from 23 January.
Singer and actress Wang Feifei at the wishing tree at the COS Spring Festival pop-up
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Celebrating Tradition with a Touch of Modernity
The former activity especially proved to be a challenging but deeply satisfying exercise, which tested guests’ artistic ability and fine motor skills, centred around the traditional Chinese art of diancha, with a tea powder acting as a natural dye to decorate a delicious whipped tea delicacy.
The launch party was held later in the evening of 22 January and included a welcome speech by COS Managing Director Daniel Hermann, and a slew of performances including traditional Chinese tanggu (drum), a modern dance, as well as a musical appearance by Wang Feifei, Chinese singer and actress, and one-time member of the K-pop group Miss A; and a DJ set from Aaron Wu.
The Tianhou Palace, Shanghai at night
Wang regaled the crowd with two songs, “Runaway” and “天体距离” . Remarking on the brisk weather, Wang returned for her second set with the chic addition of elbow-length leather gloves, perfectly complementing her red cardigan and polo sweater set, part of the new COS Year of the Horse offerings.
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Contemporary Designs for a Modern Celebration
Inside the space of the Tianhou Palace displayed on the second level, COS’ Year of the Horse collection proved that Chinese New Year dressing can take on a more subdued, but no less festive take. There were touches of bright red in both the men’s and women’s collections. For the women, the brushed merino wool sweater set worn by Wang, and for the men, a chic polo knit wool sweater that adds an exuberant punch of colour to everything from tailored trousers to jeans.
COS brushed merino wool cardigan and polo sweater
The Year of the Horse was celebrated in the textures and elegant motifs of the collection that explored the idea of movement and renewal. A key piece was a hand-drawn horse motif on a skinny, ivory sweater, proof that COS can celebrate and contemporise even traditional imagery in its own way.
The subtle nods were so light, one could almost blink and miss them. Another key piece worn by the event host Yvonne Du, was a quilted liner jacket in a warm ivory tone. Embroidered with a dancing-horse motif that was the handiwork of the COS atelier’s in-house team, it was crafted from a cotton blend and could be paired with the matching skirt or plain trousers, deftly proving that the collection’s life could easily extend beyond the festive period.
A quilted cotton jacket from the collection
Other cute touches could be seen in the accessories, ranging from silk and embroidered scarves with elegant horse motifs to a bright red wool scarf to whimsical cotton-jacquard socks. The colour palette of the collection too was refined yet modern—rich reds balanced with neutrals like blacks, beiges and ivories—to punctuate rather than overwhelm each look. The effect? Chinese New Year... but make it fashion. COS got the memo for what real fashion lovers want in their festive capsule collections, and it more than delivered.