Milan puts the spotlight on Shanghai fashion. On September 8 a fashion show-event called «Shanghai Fashion Day», an international event related to the 2023 World Design Cities Conference (WDCC), was held at Palazzo Serbelloni in Corso Venezia.
Thanks to the initiative, Shanghai’s fashion style and creativity once again captured the attention of the international fashion industry.
«Shanghai’s style and fashion stand out due to their unique blend of traditional Chinese aesthetics with Western fashion trends. This fusion creates a distinctive style that incorporates elements like Qipao-inspired dresses, mandarin collars, and Chinese embroidery into contemporary clothing designs», Luo Zhiwei, director of the Shanghai Promotion Center for Design City, explained. Just like the brands presented at Shanghai Fashion Day in Milan, Zhiwei continued, the designers draw inspiration from China’s rich cultural heritage, incorporating traditional Chinese motifs, fabrics like silk and brocade and colors with cultural significance into their contemporary fashion designs. In addition to innovative design, they embrace sustainability and innovation by prioritizing eco-friendly materials and production processes, reflecting a global trend towards more responsible fashion.
The Shanghai Promotion Center for the City of Design is one of the organizers of Shanghai Fashion Day in Milan. «We strive to promote design exchange and fashion fusion between China and Italy, as well as the friendly cities of Shanghai and Milan. This injects new vitality and inspiration into the global fashion scene, allowing the world to witness the boundless creativity and potential of Chinese design», Zhiwei said.
Shanghai has become a significant hub for high fashion, hosting international fashion and design events every year, such as the World Design Cities Conference, Shanghai Design Week, Shanghai Fashion Week, with many international luxury brands establishing flagship stores in Shanghai.
The event organized in Milan contributes to the city’s reputation as a global fashion capital and makes Shanghai a dynamic and exciting place for fashion enthusiasts and designers. «Shanghai Fashion Day», Zhiwei explained, was held in two parts: a collective show and a static exhibition.
The collective show, presented by We Couture, WJX Couture and YIJIA, embodies simplicity, elegance with a touch of grandeur and a modern Shanghai style. It showcases the harmonious encounter of Oriental aesthetics and Western classic fashion, epitomizing the allure of Shanghai’s fashion scene. The static exhibition consists of nine Shanghai-based design brands, including WOO, HANART, PACC, DESIGEM, HERBORIST, SHANGHAI VIVE, POÀ, Dunhuang brand ethnic musical instruments and RYAN WANG CANDLE.
«These brands cover a variety of categories, including fashion, home decor, beauty products and jewelry, conveying a fusion of traditional Chinese culture and modern fashion elements. It reflects the current consumer trends in China», he added. Luo Zhiwei then spoke about the relationship between the Chinese and Italian fashion industries: «The connection between the Chinese and Italian fashion industries is multifaceted and has evolved significantly over the years». From the perspective of the industrial chain, China’s clothing industry chain system is very mature and many Italian brands have also positioned themselves globally within the industry chain. China’s high-quality and cost-effective manufacturing capabilities have attracted many Italian fashion brands to collaborate. The cooperation between Italian fashion companies and Chinese manufacturing began quite early.
Italian brands are highly popular among Chinese consumers due to their outstanding designs and craftsmanship. Many Italian fashion brands have invested in China and opened chain stores.
In recent years, the Chinese market has seen a rapid increase in its share of the global market for Italian fashion, occupying a significant portion.
With the rise of domestic brands in the Chinese market in recent years, many Chinese brands also aspire to expand globally.
This has brought new opportunities for cooperation between the Chinese and Italian fashion industries. Some companies have invested in Italy to establish design centers, while others have engaged in equity-based collaborations with Italian companies. «Collaboration in fashion education is also extensive», concluded Luo Zhiwei. (riproduzione riservata)
