Shanghai Fashion Week

While the 15th Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival has been going on for weeks now, what we've been waiting for is the denouement: Shanghai's very own Fashion Week.

Shanghai Fashion Week, in its sixth (unfortunately nonconsecutive) year here, is a chance for China's local fashion industry to market themselves globally, as well as hopefully turn Shanghai into another international fashion destination - like Tokyo, London and New York. Looking around on the streets, they still have a bit of a ways to go, but we applaud their gusto.

In previous years, the event has seen the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier and Sonia Rykiel. We look forward to big names like that, along with all the China-based fashion designers. The first designer to showcase his goods: Simon Wang, on April 23.

What's especially interesting about this Fashion Week is that it happens after nearly two months of a festival dedicated to the industry. The affair, themed as "Wonderful Life, Beautify Yourself, Welcome the World Expo, Promote Domestic Demands," has included exhibitions, forums and promotions of China's textile and garment industry.

Showcasing what we’re told will be the best of Shanghai's fashion before the festival is out and billed to make our lives more wonderful, we look forward to what the remaining week of fashion fever has to offer.