"I prepared for my show for almost five months, during which I went to bed at 3am and got up at 7am every day. All my work was made by hand," says Yang Mi, from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, the silver prize winner. "We have many great and bold ideas. All we want to do is to make life interesting for people."

To match the World Expo theme, Yang incorporates the high-tech concept of solar energy in her designs.

"My collection features the theme of light," she says. "I want to design something that can shine even without light."

Audrey Sorignet, a fashion design teacher at IFA Paris Shanghai, has been in Shanghai for two and a half years. She thinks the city is a good place to cultivate young fashion designers as the information flow is so rapid.

"The place is full of possibilities. The city and its people are resourceful," Sorignet says. "The young designers not only focus on what is happening, but also future elements. I really see their potential."

Different students have different ways of finding inspiration.

The gold prize winner Tang Wenbo's work [cpw.cn]

Tang, the gold prize winner, says photography often gives her an aesthetic feeling, while Yang, the runner-up, says she prefers observing films, entertainment stars and American television series.

However, they all end up with one dream - to become a top fashion designer in the future.

"The biggest change is that the students' designs are becoming more and more localized. Rather than following stereotypes and making slight changes in the works of masters, they are fascinating the audience with creativity," says Lin Bin, marketing director of Siemens China, and one of the judges at the show.

"By thinking deeply about developmental challenges and creative solutions, IFA students not only employ skill and creativity but also reveal an understanding of life as they move forward together into the future," Lin says.

All the winners got a free six-month design course in Paris. The gold prize included a return air ticket to the city as well.

"Fashion designing brings me satisfaction," says Liu Chen, another runner-up at the graduation show. "The graduation show is my debut. My fashion career has just been launched. I will probably go abroad to further my study and fashion will become my life."