Luo Fuxing is the ‘godfather’ of Shamate, an alternative Chinese subcultural movement. Two decades into his career he takes on a new challenge: theatre.

At the age of eleven, factory worker Luo Fuxing found himself catapulted into stardom as the founder of Shamate, a Chinese subcultural movement primarily known for its striking hairstyles. Almost 20 years on, Fuxing makes a living hairdressing in traditional Shamate style and livestreaming himself dancing for his online fanbase. But Fuxing now faces a new challenge: he has been cast in an adaptation of The Water Margin, the Ming dynasty-era novel, at the National Theatre of China. It is his first time acting. Assembly Line Fashionista follows Fuxing over six months, as his navigates his new role and the often-uneasy realities of his adult life, offering a playful and understated mediation on fame, class and image.

Content Guidance: Film contains a transphobic slur and references to drug abuse.