Getting 'haute' in Heilongjiang

Running from Jan 10 to 15, the 11th Harbin Fashion Week attracts designers from 25 countries and regions, presenting 35 fashion shows, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. It highlighted themes of ice, snow and romance inspired by the cultural charm of the city. PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

The 11th Harbin Fashion Week brought a high degree of internationalization, strong creativity, broad participation and significant influence to the residents of China's Ice City, as well as domestic and foreign travelers.

The event in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, ran from Jan 10 to 15 and highlighted elements of ice, snow, creativity, romance and charm — energizing and promoting the 9th Asian Winter Games and demonstrating the vibrant charm of Harbin to the world.

During the event, designers from 25 countries and regions, including China, the United States, France and Germany, presented 35 fashion shows, many of which featured debut works.

"The international fashion trends brought by Harbin Fashion Week are increasingly recognized by the international fashion community," said Wang Limei, president of the Heilongjiang Clothing, Footwear and Hat Industry Association.

"As a global fashion platform, the event provides a better stage for Chinese designers to show their work, promoting the continuous development of the fashion industry in Harbin, as well as in the province."

As the host city of the 9th Asian Winter Games, Harbin's ice and snow culture, urban heritage and elements of the Games became important components of this year's event.

At one show, a particular garment caught everyone's attention.

Using three-dimensional tailoring techniques, Filipino designer Francis Libiran paid homage to the grace of the city's flower — the lilac — as part of his Harmony collection, with an ethereal purple gown.

"Temperature fuels creativity, and temperature differences inspire design ideas," said Wang. "Harbin has a temperature difference of 50 C throughout the year. The unique seasonal changes make the city a natural treasure trove for fashion designers to draw creative inspiration."

During the dance performance Yadong Shenghuo (Asian Winter Games Flame) performed by the Harbin Ballet Troupe, Wang carried the torch symbolizing the spirit of the Games.

In addition to showcasing creative fashion design, the event also focused on "cultural exchange, brand promotion, and industry aggregation".

A series of events, such as the"50 C Temperature Difference — Chinese Elements, International Fashion — World Fashion Designers' Conference" were held alongside the main show.

By focusing on Harbin's natural advantages, and its century-old heritage as a fashion hub, the event explored how Chinese elements inspire international designers creatively, promoting exchanges and cooperation as important drivers for the development of the international fashion industry and leading global fashion trends.

"The 50 C Temperature Difference is a fashion attitude," said Wu Xuekai, vice-chairman of the China Fashion Association.

"Harbin is a city with fashion dynamics, nurturing international fashion brands and possessing a multilevel, multidimensional cultural fusion."

During the event, designers from around the world were deeply impressed by the city's magnificent ice and snow attractions, and became global ambassadors for promoting Harbin's ice and snow culture.

"They have brought celebrities and fashion influencers from their countries and more foreign tourists to visit Harbin, fully unleashing the dissemination effect of Harbin Fashion Week," said Wang.

"They helped boost Harbin's tourism economy, and continuously enhance the international appeal of the city's ice and snow culture."

For instance, designers from Thailand introduced their country's beauty pageant winners to Harbin, while designers from Vietnam brought a 60-strong delegation to experience the joy of Harbin's winter tourism.

"I visited Harbin Ice and Snow World and many other ice and snow tourist spots," said Loris Narduzzi, a designer from Switzerland.

"I had a very wonderful experience. Harbin residents have created a very unique wonderland from ice and snow, attracting more people to come here and experience it, which is truly remarkable."

Over 10 successful editions, Harbin Fashion Week has attracted more than 1,300 international designers from about 70 countries and regions to showcase their work.

The World Fashion Designers Conference has provided an important platform for international designers to engage in exchanges and cooperation and, as such, the West City Red Square has been designated as the permanent venue for the event going forward.

China is known as one of the biggest fashion producers, and Harbin has used advanced technology to cement itself as one of the fashion capitals.

"Harbin Fashion Week takes innovation, green technology, fashion and sharing as its development concept," the event's organizers said.

"It takes artificial intelligence and high-tech as its driving force, and a beautiful life and fashion city as its theme," they added.

"In doing so, it stimulates innovation driven by endogenous power, creating and leading people's growing demand for a better life, highlighting internationalization, industrialization, artistry and marketization," the statement concluded.

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn