Shanghai designer Mark Gong is riding a wave of commercial momentum, with his label Markgong now generating annual revenue of around $1 million. The 28-year-old Parsons graduate credits a viral moment: Blackpink’s Jennie was photographed in his dachshund-print T-shirt on February 24, 2025. Around 30,000 of the tees have since sold, and T-shirts now account for roughly 35% of the business.
A Celebrity-Led Sales Strategy
Gong says celebrity dressing has always been central to his approach, noting that magazine editorials do little to drive sales. He typically begins by designing stage costumes for stars, then gradually moves into everyday wear. He also dressed Blackpink’s Lisa in a tuxedo dress for the 2025 Oscars. Korean celebrities, he believes, hold the most influence across Asia and beyond.
Founded in New York in 2018, the brand moved to China in 2020. It now employs about 17 full-time staff and six freelancers. In August, Gong opened his first flagship in Shanghai’s IAMP Mall, run in collaboration with incubator Labelhood. The store lets customers try higher-end show pieces, such as pastel puffy dresses and sequin-laden designs, which have proved a surprise hit.
Eyes on the West
Markgong has 60 wholesale stockists in China and plans to hold that number steady. Attention is now turning to the US and Europe, supported by Purple PR in the United States. Gong has expanded the collection from around 160 to 260 SKUs to appeal to Western buyers and stylists.
His Spring/Summer 2027 show at Shanghai Fashion Week, the brand’s tenth runway, cost about $30,000, a fraction of European costs. Gong says Shanghai gives him a platform where “people see us.”