Shushu/Tong

Founders Liushu Lei and Yutong Jiang were both born in Chengdu and attended the same high school. Both Lei and Jiang were inspired by the anime Nana to become designers, although Jiang was briefly interested in becoming a cartoonist before realizing she preferred fashion. The two went on to acquire MA degrees at London College of Fashion, where the two were flatmates and first conceived of the brand. The label's name is a combination of Lei's nickname, Shushu, and Jiang's given name, Yutong. and Charles & Keith, for footwear, local brand Yvmin for a line of jewelry, and Estée Lauder for holiday cosmetic gift sets. The brand's collaboration with Estée Lauder was noted as the first time a global brand had collaborated with a Chinese fashion brand. == Design and influences ==

Shushu/Tong is noted for its hyper-feminine style, having been compared to the coquette aesthetic trend, Works that have inspired collections include the Aim for the Ace!, Jiang also serves as a muse for Lei, as she models items and provides early feedback, giving a woman's perspective to Lei's designs. The two designers have acknowledged that this may have contributed to criticism against the brand for its limited range of body shapes. == References ==