Bigger than ever, it’s hard to ignore what a force Shanghai Fashion Week has become

Shanghai Fashion Week gets bigger every year. Forty-five official catwalk shows and 18 official presentations, an almost befuddling mix of brands – and sponsors – and everything from children’s wear to menswear to bridal fashion on show left a lot to digest.

Highlights of the event, which ended on Thursday, included shows by Mukzin, AwayLee, Baby Ghost, Xu Zhi and Uma Wang. The latter’s collection (which made its debut at Milan Fashion Week earlier this year) was shown in collaboration with cashmere brand 1436, and featured a lovely mix of soft, languid shapes, sheers and layered knits topped off with puritan bonnets.

Curiosity about Chinese brands is growing within China itself and beyond. Unlike fashion weeks in the West, which mainly cater to press and buyers, many of the official catwalk shows in Shanghai placed significant focus on clients, which is why the audience included a fair share of families (including children). That produces a different vibe to the shows in London, Milan, New York and Paris.

In all honesty, the official schedule needed a bit of tightening: the substantial kidswear section was a distraction that took the momentum away from high fashion. Despite this, it was hard to ignore what a force Shanghai Fashion Week has become; big trade shows are bringing business and helping reshape China’s retail fashion landscape.