New York Fashion Week: Tmall creates ecosystem for Chinese designers to grow

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New York Fashion Week is in full swing in the Big Apple. This year's event features the first "Tmall China Day". It's an initiative to introduce Chinese fashion designers to the global market. Four designers and brands were selected to showcase contemporary Chinese fashions. CGTN's Karina Huber has more.

China and the US fashion industry have long been intertwined. For decades, many of America's top designers have manufactured their goods in China. More recently Chinese designers have been coming to the US to showcase their looks.

To further foster that relationship, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, or CFDA, has teamed up with Tmall and Suntchi, a Shanghai-based fashion management company to create the first Tmall China Day at New York Fashion Week.

STEVEN KOLB PRESIDENT, CFDA "I think the perception in the United States is that China is a manufacturing country. I don't think there is a high level of understanding of the creativity that exists there. So, for us, it's really to elevate creativity to bring Chinese creativity to New York, expose designers to the American industry."

Four Chinese brands focused mainly on menswear were chosen to be a part of the first China Day event. They included sportswear giant Li-Ning.

FENG YE GENERAL MANAGER OF E-COMMERCE, LI-NING "We really want the world to see that we are using our hearts in our design and our innovation and the breakthrough so we can bring the brand to an international stage."

Capitalizing on the See Now, Buy Now movement, most of the garments seen on the New York runway were available immediately on Tmall after the show.

JESSICA LIU PRESIDENT, TMALL FASHION & LUXURY "Chinese - we know there are a lot of trendy elements. It will also be accepted by foreigners. So we also hope that foreign consumers can like them and can purchase them through our platform."

Kolb says the collaboration also seeks to help American designers grow their customer base in China by giving them a better understanding of how Tmall works.

STEVEN KOLB PRESIDENT, CFDA "My guess is that many designers are going to see the value of Tmall and what they can do to reach a Chinese consumer through Tmall so it's a great opportunity."

KARINA HUBER NEW YORK "This first China Day was all about the men. But next September, the ladies take center stage. That's when there will be another China Day at New York Fashion Week - this time featuring Chinese designers making womenswear - a much bigger and high profile market. Karina Huber, CGTN, New York."