Beyond the Bale - Issue 25 - Australian wool on China's catwalks
This year AWI lent its support to Fabrics China Creation, one of the most highly regarded professional competitions in the Chinese textile industry.
The competitions are jointly organised by China Textile Information Centre, China Textiles Development Centre and China Fashion Colour Association. AWI's support for Fabrics China Creation aims to encourage innovation in the field of textile fabric and pattern design within the Chinese textile industry.
The awards promote Australian Merino wool to those likely to be creating the next fashionable textile or the next catwalk-style garment.
Jimmy Jackson, AWI's regional manager Asia, says the annual Fabrics China Creation serves as a platform not only for the communication between designers and producers, but also for contact between suppliers and buyers. More importantly, it opens a window for students who major in fabric and fashion design in textile universities and colleges to access the market and the textile industry, and in this context it serves as an incubator for fostering Chinese fabric designers.
There are three categories for Fabrics China Creation based on different candidates:
- Applied Fabric – apparel fabric that can be put into batch production, open to manufacturers;
- Creation Fabric – concept or reproduced fabric that cannot be put into batch production for the moment, open to designers; and
- Pattern Design – pattern designs that can be used for apparel and accessories, open to students and designers.
There were 860 finalists selected from 2540 entrants, who included manufacturers, designers and students from 17 universities across China; the finalists paraded their pieces on October 24 before the Fabrics China Creation 2006 judging panel, which included Jimmy Jackson.
"By supporting China Creation we are supporting a host of professionals that are interested in innovation within the Chinese textile and design industry," Mr Jackson says. "We are promoting the benefits of Australian Merino wool, ensuring all are aware of the versatility of the fibre."
This year's winner of the Australian Merino Fashion Award was presented to Ms Li Lamei and Ms Meng Xia from Shandong Ruyi Group, who co-designed a Merino/linen/silk-blend fabric.
Shandong Ruyi is one of China's major vertical wool textile mills, involved in processing, producing and designing as well as retailing wool textile products. It has a technology centre and postdoctorate work station, where it carries out research and development of wool textile products. Its ‘Ruyi' brand worsted fabrics have more than 1000 varieties, and is a well-known trademark in China.
Australian Merino wool had a strong presence among the finalists in other categories, including the Award for Applied Fabrics, where the gold medal went to Ms Yao Xiaoming and Ms Yuan Xichun from Jiangsu Xinming Textile Company for a fabric comprising 40 per cent wool, 47 per cent silk, and 13 per cent polyester. The silver medal for this award went to Ms Fu Aifeng from Jiangsu Danmao Textile Company, with a 95 per cent wool and five per cent cashmere fabric.
During the Fabrics China Creation Catwalk show, AWI previewed a new Australian Merino wool range it had developed in partnership with leading polyester fabric maker, Haitian Textile Group.
Alongside AWI, Fabrics China Creation was also supported by Dupont China, Haitian Textile and Lenzing Fibres.
More information: www.fabricschinacreation.cn
Return to Beyond the Bale issue 25 index page.