The Shenzhen & Milan Lifestyle Week kicked off a four-day fashion feast at the China-Guanlan Original Printmaking Base in Longhua District on March 19.

More than 200 guests including officials, designers, and artists from Milan and Shenzhen attended the inaugural show.

Subvenues in Nanshan, Futian, and Longhua districts are hosting a variety of events, including fashion shows, exhibitions, and matchmaking sessions, throughout the week.

A scene at the opening ceremony of the Shenzhen-Milan Lifestyle Week at China Printmaking Village in Guanlan District. Wang Haolan

The collaborative fashion week aims to showcase the latest fashion designs and serves as a prelude to the 2024 Shenzhen Fashion Week.

The opening ceremony, which consisted of nine scenes curated by the Italian team Festi Group, was themed “Art and Nature.”

It showcased a captivating fusion of Chinese and Italian cultures, reflected through costumes and music that creatively narrated cross-cultural stories, within the historical architectural compounds of the printmaking base, an area that is one of 10 Hakka-style villages in Shenzhen.

“We want to present to you that fashion is art,” said Valerio Festi, artistic director of the show. “We have tried to make a good mix, combining the Italian and Chinese cultures.”

During the opening ceremony, Chinese firms sealed strategic cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding with their Italian partners.

Additionally, a showroom for fashion exchanges between China and Italy was also inaugurated.

Since 2018, Shenzhen and Milan have enjoyed a friendship city status, with Shenzhen consistently sending delegations to attend Milan Fashion Week over the past four years.

Longhua will also organize 15 fashion shows featuring local and Italian fashion brands and products from independent designers, seven matchmaking sessions between Chinese and Italian fashion suppliers, buyers, designers, and various sideline events.

Models display the ready-to-wear collection of Italian brand Pinko at the runway of Eachway Fashion Creative Industrial Park in Dalang Fashion Town, Longhua District. Courtesy of the organizer

The Nanshan subvenue will kick off a fashion exhibition presenting the latest clothing, classic designs, hand-drafted designs, art decorations, and multimedia videos of fashion brands from Milan and Nanshan in Nantou Ancient Town.

The Nanshan exhibition will start today and last through April 14. In addition to the exhibition, the Nanshan subvenue will host fashion salons, shows, and ceremonies throughout the week.

In Futian, fashion week events will run throughout March, with five commercial business circles hosting a total of six fashion shows and matchmaking sessions to promote the business environment in the district.