CRI听力:Young Chinese Fashion Designers to Take Over?

With the theme of "time", Li Xiao's runway show at the China Fashion Week was crowded with fans, buyers, and designers.

Just one month ago, this 20-something designer added another big tag to her profile by presenting the closing show for the London Fashion Week.

Li Xiao won the 2015 "Mercedes-Benz China Designer Award". According to Nicolas Speeks, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz China this is an award set to nurture talented young Chinese designers.

"The Mercedes-Benz China Designer Award is designed to give those talents a platform, upon which they can build. We give them an opportunity to go up or go to major international fashion shows and show us what they can do. We've done it five times and Li Xiao is the latest."

In the past few years, many young Chinese fashion designers, like Li Xiao, have made increasing presence in the international fashion industry and won recognition both home and abroad.

Li attributes this change primarily to China's economic growth.

"Fashion is closely related to the quality of life. When the quality of life and cultural atmosphere reach a certain level, you'll see the appearance of good designers, just as what's happening in China at the moment. There are many young and good designers."

The potential of the China's fashion market has also drawn attention from the e-commerce industry.

JD.com,one of China's biggest online B2C retailers, is planning to establish a platform of independent fashion designers. Last year, the company sponsored a few young Chinese designers to present runway shows at the Milan Fashion Week. Earlier this year, it presented a few others at the New York Fashion Week.

Alicia Lee is among them.

"We've been approached by JD.com for quite some time, as the company sees our potential. This project was our first time cooperation and it was quite successful."

China Fashion Week itself has also launched a nurturing program – "10+3 SHOWROOM", by inviting ten young Chinese fashion designers and three accessory designers each time to showcase their newest collection.

With such programs, a young generation of Chinese designers are making an impression to the industry both home and abroad.

At the moment, China's fashion industry is likely to undergo a reshuffle. Traditional fashion brands are challenged by the lack of unique designs, while independent designer brands, with their innovation, are on a rise.

In designer Alicia Lee's opinion, the best way for both sides is to work together.

"Commercial brands, by finding good designers, develop their own design genes and essence of the brand. Or, designers, by working with commercial brands or finding capital, can explore a way of commercialization."

Eyeing the domestic or international markets, these young Chinese designers all believe that it's now time for them to shine.

For CRI, I'm Xu Weiyi.