The tall towers of Macau's luxury casinos shimmer in the sunlight and their bright lights sparkle across the Pearl River Delta at dusk. Packed with millions of visitors from the mainland and all over the world, the teeming, compact little city of 558,100 people constantly reaffirms its role as the gaming, motor racing and pleasure-seeking centre of Asia - the 'Las Vegas of the East'.
Yet, there is more to Macau than the rattle of roulette wheels or the rev of next month's Grand Prix. The city was part of the Qin empire (221-206 BC) and, in the 16th century, became China's original trading link with the seafaring, colonial Portuguese and the rest of the world. Stroll past the pastel stucco churches and colonial buildings along Macau's World Heritage Trail and you will see at virtually every turn why much of the old city is a Unesco World Heritage Site, where East has met West for more than 400 years.
Macau fuses more than cultures and cuisines, however. The brash, vibrant city has also become a convenient cross-border shopping haunt for millions of free-spending mainland tourists who are eager to learn more about international fashion labels.
So, the three-day fashion extravaganza, City of Dreams' Glam Slam 2011, adds another layer of interest and glamour to Macau's myriad attractions and illustrates the increasing diversification of the city's tourist attractions and industries, as encouraged by Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on. Held from October 13 to 15, as part of the Macau Shopping Festival, the City of Dreams' Glam Slam 2011 is the largest Asian haute couture fashion show held in the city. It features collections from seven of Asia's top fashion designers in three runway shows in the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Macau.
Leading the line-up is William Tang, who is fondly known as the 'Bad Boy' of Hong Kong fashion, and is responsible for designing the award-winning uniforms for Dragonair, MTR and the Bank of China. Vivian Luk will also draw the catwalk's spotlight. She has dressed some of Hollywood's top actresses, including Oscar nominees, and is now trying to recreate the same unique style for her Asian clients.
Visitors will also get to see designs by Qi Gang, who was voted one of China's top 10 fashion designers by various mainland media outlets. His bold use of colours and draping techniques highlight a woman's natural charm and elegance, and will be another high spot of the fashion extravaganza.
