China Economy: Foreign buyers and designers gather in Shanghai for fashion gala

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October 12, 2025 News CGTN 351

Shanghai Fashion Week has evolved from a domestic showcase into a globally recognized platform attracting international designers and buyers seeking new opportunities.

The Spring/Summer 2026 Shanghai Fashion Week has kicked off. This season's fashion gala has drawn many foreign buyers and designers, several visiting China for the first time in search of new fashion opportunities. Chen Tong takes a closer look.

It's the first time sneaker buyer Claudia De Beer has come to Shanghai.

Her first stop after arriving from Dubai, checking out the latest creations at the Shanghai Fashion Week showroom. Designs that caught her eye: Chinese sneakers made with 3D printing technology.

CLAUDIA DE BEER Sneaker Buyer "What I'm looking for specifically is what's next in the sneaker industry. There's so much innovation and change that's going to be coming. I'm looking for what is going to be pushing the boundaries and very interested in the way 3D printing is going to go from terms of sustainability or comfort and also just the design potential. So this brand is quite interesting to me."

At the showroom, it's not just foreign buyers making an appearance, some overseas brands have also chosen Shanghai as the place to debut their collections. This Swiss label was launched only a month ago, making this its first-ever fashion week, and the designer's first visit to China.

ANTONI GRZELAK Designer of Grezlak "Luxury and attention to detail is very appreciated in China and also think that people like to search for new stuff, that people enjoy new brands, new concepts and there is not another Swiss brand on the market right now that has the Swiss label in fashion like we do, so we came to show this in China."

This season's Shanghai Fashion Week officially began on October 9th, featuring both runway shows and showrooms across the city. Alongside fashion insiders from the Middle East and Europe, participants from Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea are also attending. Notably, half of the brands on display are international labels.

CHEN TONG Shanghai "In the past, Shanghai Fashion Week served mainly as a platform for Chinese designers to showcase their creations, but it has earned a strong global reputation. Now, Shanghai Fashion Week is a stage where designers from around the world come to connect, collaborate, and seize new opportunities. Chen Tong, CGTN, Shanghai."