Text by Zhou Jin Photographs by Wei Zhong
One of the most important gatherings of the Chinese apparel industry, the 20th China International Clothing & Accessories Fair (CHIC 2012), themed “Crossing,” opened on March 26 in Beijing, attracting more than 1,000 clothing brands from around the world.
Born in 1993, CHIC welcomed its 20th birthday this year. Its history aptly mirrors the evolution of the Chinese fashion industry, which survived harsh challenges due to the invasion of foreign brands after the country’s admission to the World Trade Organization and a sharp drop in demand during the 2008-09 global financial crisis. In recent years, particularly, the Chinese fashion industry has faced other challenges such as changes in consumption and branding patterns, fluctuation of cotton prices, and increases in labor and energy costs. In this environment, apparel enterprises are eager to find a way to optimize their necessary resources.
The organizers of CHIC 2012 hoped to offer a platform for Chinese apparel manufacturers to systemically examine the development of the clothing industry and rekindle optimism for the future of the trade. On the other hand, fashion brands hoped to showcase themselves to every participant at the event.
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