China's Shanghai Fashion Week faces delay, while Tom Dixon opens Shanghai flagship.

Just heard through the grapevine that Shanghai Fashion Week may have to be postponed from March to mid April, amidst concerns posted by a growing rise of coronavirus infections in China.  Organisers have not yet made any announcement but there have been reports that brands are pulling out of trade fair events due to ongoing travel restrictions and rising Covid cases.

In ten days time or so, Chinese New Year will be “celebrated” in China and in Chinese communities around the world, but this lunar new year, which will be the year of the Ox, will see traditional celebrations curtailed and may have to be more low-key, and possibly going digital. Curbs on travel this year to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus mean many people won’t be able to return to their hometowns. That will limit spending on travel, restaurants and gifts. 

China’s efforts to control the recent resurgence of Covid-19 are undercutting a recovery which has been one of the bright spots in the global economy.  According to Bloomberg news,  the first official data for China in January showed economic activity expanded at a much slower pace compared to December, with the services sector markedly weaker. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 51.3, while the non-manufacturing gauge dropped to 52.4 from 55.7 in December, according to data released Sunday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile British interior and lifestyle product designer brand Tom Dixon has just announced the opening of its Shanghai flagship store, showing the maison’s continued confidence in the Asian market as it will be its third retail hub in China, following the opening of the Hangzhou store in December 2019 and the Beijing Sanlitun Bottle Concept store in September 2020. Tom Dixon Studio’s mobile, modular display system OCTAGON has also been on exhibition in China, travelling from Chengdu to Shanghai and ending in Beijing. OCTAGON represents the multifaceted nature of the brand, and is a compact structure showcasing the diverse architectural spaces and products of Tom Dixon Studio. OCTAGON is currently exhibiting at Beijing Wangfu Central Plaza until 28th February 2021.

The latest Hub is in Xintiandi, a cosmopolitan luxury design, fashion and hospitality destination in the centre of Shanghai, a stone’s throw from luxury properties, on XinTianDi Style I, Ground floor, No.123-6 Xinye Road.

The main entrance and exterior of Tom Dixon flagship store in Shanghai, China features these prominent double wooden doors and geometric wooden patterning on the windows.  Photos from Tom Dixon.

Tom Dixon Studio’s CEO, Hans Hoegstedt says: "China is one of our most important markets. We searched for 2 years for this location with the intention to support China’s design community. Our Shanghai hub is designed to be a place where our customers can fully experience Tom’s extraordinary products."

According to Tom Dixon. the flagship sits within a traditional Chinese building and is surrounded by Shikumen architecture. Shikumen, which translates to 'ancient stone gate', is a Shanghainese architectural style which blends traditional Chinese architecture and social behaviour with elements of Western design.  

The Hub has a minimalist, clean and industrial interior. The open-plan layout references the Shkiumen organisation of spaces, with rooms arranged around a Central Hall and Courtyard. There are several massive blocks of quarried solid stone in the centre, acting as podium for accessories.  The Shanghai Hub pays homage to many of the brand's hero products, such as FAT, SPRING and WINGBACK, as well as pendant lighting systems of MELT, MIRROR BALL, BEAT and BIRD Chaise. It also displays a selection of their latest collections.

To explore the new store, go on to the Tom Dixon website.

New sustainable and functional fabric options on offer at Intertextile Apparel

Comprehensive product zones including one entitled All About Sustainability which will feature Chinese and European exhibitors are deemed to be must-see destinations at the upcoming Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Spring Edition trade fair, March 12 - 14.

The Forum Space at last year’s All About Sustainability Zone proved popular, say organisers at Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong, noting that the zone is ideal for visitors sourcing eco-friendly textile products to gain insight on new sustainable business approaches.   Photo: Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong.             

Exhibitors at the All About Sustainability zone will include Foshan Chicley Textile’s sustainable fashion fabrics – a range of organic linen and cotton, Lenzing ECOVERO, Modal and TENCEL, as well as digital printed fabrics.  While the new OEKO-TEX®100 Standard regulations have been published for 2019 according to organisers at Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong, the All About Sustainability zone also houses exhibitors who provide testing and certification services.

With the added element of the fringe programme, which will include seminars held by exhibitors, the fair offers visitors opportunities to learn more about the latest industry opinions and regulations.

Hohenstein Textile Testing and TESTEX both offer Standard 100, STeP, Eco Passport, Detox to Zero and Leather Standard by OEKO-TEX® testing amongst other services, and both of these exhibitors will also host a seminar.  Hohenstein Textile Testing will explain the amended OEKO-TEX® regulations, while TESTEX will discuss how these new regulations help to build trust with today’s consumers. Other exhibitors offering testing services include Intertex Testing Services, SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services and TUV Rheinland.

“Shanghai is a great city for a business with original prints, and Intertextile is one of our busiest fairs. It’s a good place to find new clients,” explained Ms Jane Han Zhang, Founder & Creative Director of British design studio Fairbairn & Wolf Studio.  Jane and her partners are alumni of the London-based TexSelect (formerly Texprint) which promotes and nurtures British-trained fashion and design graduates through its annual competition that has won international acclaim.

Messe Frankfurt has reported that over 3,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries & regions will join this year’s Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics from 12 – 14 March, spanning a huge range of textile product categories, from fashion to technical innovation. 

Comprehensive product zones will reflect demand for different products such as sustainable solutions, functional fabrics, digital printing, accessories and denim.

Spanning six halls at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (Shanghai) this year, the fair will be held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, Yarn Expo Spring, PH Value and CHIC.

British Fashion Council Launches China Partnerships Strategy in Shanghai with Ambassadorial President David Beckham

What has David Beckham been up to in Shanghai this week?
For one thing, he's been helping the British fashion industry to break into the vast Chinese market.
So Victoria is not the only one with global fashion credentials in the Beckham camp these days.

In his new role as the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) Ambassadorial President, David Beckham has launched the organisation’s China Partnerships Strategy supported by Stephanie Phair, BFC Chair; Dylan Jones, BFC Chair of Menswear and Caroline Rush, BFC Chief Executive.

The strategy was launched at a lunch attended by existing and potential new key partners, invited by the BFC and Mr Beckham. Guests included Xia Ding, President of JD International Fashion; Paul David Haouzi, President & Executive Director Trinity Group; Claire Chung, China General Manager Yoox Net-A-Porter, Patrick Tsang, Chairman Tsang Group and Judy Liu, Managing Director China Farfetch.

The lunch, hosted at The Middle House Shanghai confirmed £500,000 worth of deals including JD.com and Ruyi’s co-sponsorship of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund, JD.com’s support for the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and support from Britain’s Department of International Trade.  In addition to deals done, the BFC continue to explore the next stage of their innovative partnership with VIP.com and their long-term partnership with Fung Retailing Group.

The development of the BFC’s China Fashion Business Network is a key pillar of development for the next 12 months, and many attendees at the lunch pledged their support to assist the BFC create a network of credible partners across investment, licensing, manufacturing, property, communications and retail in China.  As Stephanie Phair, BFC Chair commented: “China has always been a key market for British designers, from emerging businesses to established brands. There is a growing appetite for British fashion in China."

David Beckham, BFC Ambassadorial President said: “Promoting the British fashion industry in China is an important part of my new role with the British Fashion Council. I hope that through events like today we are able to shine a light on the incredible creative talent we have in the UK and promote that talent on a global scale. The opportunity in China for connecting creatively and driving investment into British fashion is huge. Today we are able to show real commitment from Chinese businesses to future fashion leaders in the UK and in parallel, share our experience, knowledge and platforms with emerging Chinese designers.”

The BFC’s China Partnerships Strategy is focused on three key areas and solidifies the organisation’s commitment to making access to the Chinese market easier for British designer businesses: 

Support for emerging talent with mentoring on the Chinese market Partnerships of Fashion Weeks; stimulating demand through content and access, in relevant cases supplying that demand through retail partnerships in the UK and China.Network development of investors, creatives, influencers, media, retailers and high-net worth individuals to partner with British designer businesses on local growth strategies.

At the lunch hosted by BFC Ambassadorial President David Beckham at The Middle House Shanghai, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Dylan Jones, BFC Chair of Menswear and Editor of British GQ, Caroline Rush, BFC Chief Executive, Xia Ding, President of JD International Fashion and Francis Srun, Executive President of Ruyi International Group that confirms funding, mentorship and additional opportunities to develop partnerships for the shortlisted designers into China.

Xia Ding, President of JD International Fashion said: “The UK is now increasingly recognized by Chinese people as a global fashion centre and JD is proud to serve as the most convenient channel for British designers to reach China’s many discerning fashion consumers.”

Francis Srun, Executive President of Ruyi International Group commented: “Aside from a range of joint initiatives in offline retail and e-commerce, Ruyi’s extensive collection of global brands are already working closely with JD and we are confident that this network will give a strong boost to designers supported by the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund.”

The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund is the UK’s biggest menswear prize for emerging talent.  The prize was established in September 2013 following the success of the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund providing one designer with a £150,000 grant to provide necessary infrastructure to take them to the next stage of their business and significant value in kind services as part of a bespoke, high level mentoring support programme over a twelve-month period.

Craig Green for Moncler, unveiled in Milan for 2018-19.

Dylan Jones, BFC Menswear Chair and Editor of British GQ, commented: “We are delighted to re-instate the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund thanks to JD.com Inc. and Ruyi who have committed to two years of support for our brilliant emerging menswear designers.

The last British designer to win the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund was Craig Green, a talent and business that has gone from strength to strength.”

Victoria’s Secret Angels filmed for Fashion Show in Shanghai, China for broadcast on Nov. 28

For the first time, the Victoria’s Secret Angels will be filmed in Shanghai, China for THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW**, to be broadcast Tuesday, Nov. 28 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the US- CBS Television Network. The world’s  renowned American lingerie brand's reportedly most watched fashion show will be seen in more than 190 countries.

Last year’s show received 1.4 billion views and more than 150 billion media impressions worldwide.

Merging fashion, fantasy and entertainment, the lingerie runway show will include pink carpet interviews, model profiles, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show and musical performances that will be announced at a later date.

The all-star line-up of Victoria’s Secret Angels will include returning favorites Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Elsa Hosk, Jasmine Tookes, Josephine Skriver, Lais Ribeiro, Martha Hunt, Romee Strijd, Sara Sampaio, Stella Maxwell and Taylor Hill, as well as new faces.




**THE VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW is being produced by Done and Dusted, inc. Edward G. Razek, Monica Mitro, Ian Stewart, Hamish Hamilton and Chip Quigley are the executive producers. Hamish Hamilton is the director.