Seeking Young Blood: International Trade Show

We applaud any event that makes fashion more accessible. This week, we not only have Beijing Design Week to look forward to, but also the very first CHIC-YOUNG BLOOD (CYB) expo which runs from today until the 29th at the National Agricultural Exhibition Centre.

The more au fait amongst you may recognize CHIC, the China International Clothing and Accessories Fair which got its start in 1993 and has become an annual event in Beijing. CYB is run by the same organizers of CHIC, only it focuses on the “New Born” – or, as they put it, “young people with new ideas” and rising “powers” in Chinese fashion culture.

According to their press release, CYB is for you if “you are a fashion brand looking for opportunities in the Chinese market,” “want to stay up-to-date with the latest fashion brands,” or simply yearn “to be a part of the growth happening in this rapidly developing market.”

The key objective is outlined as building awareness of the top young talents in China. On top of that, though, CYB aims to serve as a platform for networking and improving the flow of communication between buyers and designers.

The expo – which has already received coverage by top fashion media like Vogue and GQ – will consist of fashion shows and exhibits featuring music, art and extreme sports. Many local independent designers will be in attendance, including Zou, Linzi, Vega Zaishi Wang, relaxation, Yang Guanhua, LeoKong, Zhang Di, Gao Yang, Wu Liya, Shang Zhe and more. Design schools will also participate, such as Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and ESMOD.

One of the main organizers, NC.STYLE (see our interview with their International Business Development Manager Mei Ping Doery), is holding a booth representing 12 local designers and international brands. Their CEO Nicole Chen will also be interviewing celebrities and big players in the retail industry during the event, which will be streamed on Sina. (Click here for her Weibo.)

We advise you trek down to Hall 3, which contains the promising-sounding Vogue Magazine Gallery. To make the place easier to navigate, the expo has been separated into four different sections: Sports & Street, Denim Force, Tasty Must-Haves and Urban Soul.

You decide which one to go to first. For more information, visit their website (Chinese-only) or read The Street’s coverage of it here.

The event is being hosted by the China National Garment Association and China World Trade Center and being organized by Beijing Convention and Exhibition Company, China World Trade Center and NC.STYLE.

CYB (Sep 27-29). National Agricultural Exhibition Centre. Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District (6502 1727) 中国农业展览馆, 朝阳区东三环北路

Photos: NC.STYLE