Shanghai and Beijing fashion weeks postponed

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Feb 11, 2020

The coronavirus outbreak continues to take its toll on the fashion sector with the announcement of the temporary cancellation of China's two main fashion weeks. Following the calling off of a series of trade shows, the fashion weeks in Shanghai and Beijing have now also been postponed. 
 

Although the Chinese are returning to work this week following an extended break for the Lunar New Year, the coronavirus epidemic is proving to be more serious than anticipated and continues to slow down the country's economy. In a message published on Chinese social media platform WeChat on Monday, the organisers of Shanghai Fashion Week announced the postponement of the event, which was supposed to open on 26 March. 
 
The Fall/Winter 2020-21 edition has been pushed back to an as yet unspecified date, in order to "control the epidemic and prevent its spread," according to the post. The organisers explained that information concerning the event's new date and format will be announced later, adding that they hoped that "everybody will understand and fully support this decision."

According to a number of rumours that are circulating, Beijing Fashion Week, scheduled to take place from March 25 to 31, is also being postponed. Apparently, local authorities and Chinese fashion bodies have not yet found a solution that would guarantee the safety of the event's participants. 

If the situation does not improve, it looks likely that Burberry will also cancel its runway show in Shanghai this spring. The British brand has plans for a large event in the city on 23 April, when it will present its collection for Fall/Winter 2020-21.

Since its launch in 2003, Shanghai Fashion Week has grown in scale and visibility, and currently boasts some 100 brands each season, with participants hailing both from China and abroad. Last October, the event, which also supports the emergence of new local talent, hosted a show from AMI, the Parisian fashion house run by designer Alexandre Mattiussi.