The creative industries in the UK have long attracted world-wide attention. And this month, a number of talented young designers from Britain are sharing their latest designs of clothing, jewelry and furniture - as well as the secrets of their path to success - with their Chinese contemporaries.

Taking the lead in many areas of creative design, including film, music, architecture and fashion, the UK has made its name not only through its top designers in Britain, but also due to the young talents at the cutting-edge of creativity, innovation and imagination.

The ten designers who have brought their work to Shanghai this month are all recent graduates - around 20 years old - but they have already taken their first career steps in the creative industry.
 
All have either set up their own brands or are working as designers for major brand names.

Jim Hollington, Cultural Consul at the British Council in Shanghai, says they are introducing young designers whom they hope young people in China will find it easier to relate to.

"What this exhibition has in common with young people in China, particularly in Shanghai, is that people are really developing their own style and their own tastes now. This exhibition is exactly about that, how in UK, young people develop their own style and own taste. It's not about copying other people or about following the crowd, or about always looking for a name brand, but everybody can create a look and style of their own. And if you have a look at big cities in China now, you'll see that's what's happening with Chinese young people."

China's creative industry is still at the infant stage and although fashion and design schools have mushroomed in the country over the past few years, there are too few designers who manage to continue their profession and then only after several years' hard struggle.

Lü Xiaolei, vice director of the Shanghai International Fashion Center, one of the hosts of this cultural exchange , says exchanges with young designers in the UK may set a good example for young designers in China.

"They give demonstrations to our young designers about how to pursue career development and how successful a young designer can be."

Lü Xiaolei adds that fashion and design has yet to be designated as an industry in China, and in order to nurture young designers, society and the government should provide more support to allow such designers to display their talents.

"There are many young designers in Shanghai who have already set up their work studios, they are creative and talented, but they barely have enough money to set up or maintain their own brands."
 
Currently, leading world luxury brands have already set their sights on Shanghai, which has one of the fastest growing economies in China. Meanwhile, the calls for domestic fashion brands and designers are growing ever louder.

(CRI.com March 30, 2005)