Malaysian designers are looking to penetrate the Chinese market amid a growing demand for more fashion labels. Recently two leading Malaysian fashion designers, Khoon Hooi and Melinda Looi, presented their autumn/winter 2016 collections at the Shanghai Fashion Week.

Spending power in China is expected to grow in tandem with its rising economy, especially from the growing middle class. Shanghai is poised to be at the forefront of China’s fashion industry. Malaysian designers oriented towards sophisticated, modern and chic designs are considering Shanghai as their base in China.

The total import value of garments and shoes by China reached 6.6 billion dollars last year, an increase of 6.4 per cent as compared to the previous year.

The expansion of China’s middle class in recent years has also resulted in a positive growth in demand for imported clothing.

In Melinda Looi’s second season in China, she felt encouraged by the positive response from buyers and the media. Looi’s collections are sold in over ten countries and she expects the Chinese market to become the key market for her within the next one to two years.

In the past, she and Khoon Hooi have trotted out their collections at trade shows and fashion events in fashion cities such as Paris, London, Milan and New York.