Wen Run, professor of textile design and industrial economics at Donghua University, explained that the growing popularity of the genderless concept in China could be traced back to 2005, when Li Yuchun, a female idol known for her androgynous style and dress, became the champion of the reality TV singing contest Super Girl.

Li's win and the social milieu, with growing equality between men and women, gradually blurred the distinction between genders posed by the rising trend of genderless style, Wen said.

"Designers also realized the phenomenon of men coming to embrace behavior once recognized as girlish, such as makeup and skincare, and of women also breaking some stereotypes, so they began to develop targeted designs balancing the relationship between consumer psychology and trends," Wen said.