The three-year strategic initiative will support cross-border designer exchanges and innovation
Key Takeaways:
- The Shanghai Fashion Designer Association (SFDA) and Council of Fashion Designers Tokyo (CFD Tokyo) have entered a three-year strategic partnership aimed at fostering cross-cultural exchange in the fashion industry.
- This partnership will include designer exchange programs, workshops on sustainable materials, retail pop-ups, and livestream sessions on Chinese social media platforms.
- The official signing took place at the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai during Shanghai Fashion Week Spring 2025.
The Shanghai Fashion Designer Association (SFDA) and the Council of Fashion Designers Tokyo (CFD Tokyo) have announced a new strategic partnership focused on fostering increased collaboration and communication in the fashion industry. The partnership, which is set to run for three years, is designed to encourage greater exchange between designers in China and Japan as both industries adjust to the post-COVID-19 landscape.
The alliance will provide various opportunities for designers from both organizations, including exchange programs and workshops. Initiatives will focus on connecting designers with traditional Japanese manufacturers, hosting workshops on sustainability and innovative materials, organizing retail pop-ups in major outlets in both cities, and creating livestream sessions on Chinese social media platforms to expand reach.
The official signing of this partnership took place during the Spring 2025 edition of Shanghai Fashion Week at the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai. The event saw participation from several industry figures who presented their brands and upcoming projects. Notable attendees included You Hongyan, CEO of supply chain company Kane Top; Sherry Huang, founder of Chinese fashion retailer ENG; Tao Ran, deputy general manager of Xintiandi Shanghai, a commercial real estate project; and Japanese designers Yasutoshi Ezumi and Kentaro Tamai, representing brands Ezumi and Aseedoncloud, respectively. Chaehana Inoue, sales director of Japanese brand Suzusan, was also in attendance.
The SFDA, which has undergone a relaunch, is spearheading this initiative as part of its broader goal to support the growth of Chinese designers. This effort is being led by Lv Xiaolei, the secretary-general of Shanghai Fashion Week.
CFD Tokyo, founded in 1985 by prominent Japanese designers including Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Mitsuhiro Matsuda, Hanae Mori, Kansai Yamamoto, and Yohji Yamamoto, is a key player in the Japanese fashion industry. The organization is currently chaired by Masahiro Kubo, owner of the Japanese fashion incubator and retailer GR8.
This partnership aims to build stronger ties between the fashion industries in both nations, providing designers with enhanced opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth.
