The Oriental Fashion Season · 2021 Qingdao Fashion Week will kick off on Dec 9 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, said officials at a recent news conference. 

Organized by the China National Textile and Apparel Council, the national federation of all textile-related industries, as well as the Qingdao municipal government, the annual fashion event will last for three days across eight venues in Qingdao.

A fashion show held during the 2020 edition of Qingdao Fashion Week [Photo/IC]

Consisting of a series of activities, such as new product launch shows, trade exhibitions, trendy buyer festivals, and art shows, Qingdao Fashion Week is designed to foster local fashion brands, cultivate talent, develop the market and service enterprises, as well as fuel upgrading and expansion in the local clothing industry, said Qingdao officials.

This year, 40 fashion shows, including 31 online ones, will be held to mainly promote local designers. Through brand releases, fashion trend data releases, model runway shows, and finished product displays, the organizers aim to promote local original design, as well as bolster the commercial value of original design and fashion art.

In order to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's fashion week is highlighting its online channels, bringing together market resources from national boutiques, domestic chain stores, well-known e-commerce platforms, traditional agents, retail department stores, individual buyers, and other stores through livestreaming sales.

Qingdao has been ramping up efforts to expand the local fashion industry. [Photo/VCG]

Through the establishment of a buyer alliance, as well as the organization of buyer forums and other activities, the organizers aim to better serve domestic fashion buyers via both online and offline channels to increase sales.

The 2021 Qingdao Top 10 Fashion Designers Contest will be held during the event to promote original design and fuel the upgrading of the local garment industry.