Wenzhou enlists the help of foreign designers

11/02/2003

In an effort to boost the appeal of its designs internationally, the Wenzhou shoe and fashion industry in China is enlisting more foreign designers to create its latest collections.

 

Aokang set the trend in 1999 by hiring three Italian designers to work in design centres in Verona, Italy and in China. This ‘foreign intelligence’ benefited the company significantly as it now has 23 speciality shoe shops in Italy, the US and France. The Kangnai Group reinforced its international credentials in 2000 by joining the UK-based SATRA research organisation.

 

Mr. Zhu Feng, secretary general of the Wenzhou footwear and leather association said the city’s shoe and fashion enterprises were realising the benefits of developing new products for international markets.