Cooperation key to asian fashion hub

The strategy is the mission of the Asia Fashion Federation (AFF). It aims to encourage countries to concentrate more on creating not only Asian brands but also Asian fashion designs to influence the world marketplace.

AFF chairmen from Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore share the view that Asia has the potential to become a global manufacturing hub through advantages such as technology, supply chains, raw materials, skilled labour and fashion designs.

The combination of those Asian strengths through regional cooperation and technology transfer would be an important force to develop unique fashion designs. As a result, AFF members will have immediate access through each country's manufacturing and raw-material resources.

For instance, China is strong in manufacturing, Japan and Korea have fabric and textile mills, while Thailand is able to provide skilled, unique hand-finished detailing.

AFF will also help members develop manufacturing depending on the operational methods of each designer and the individual companies. The federation will gather the power of information from each country and find a contact point of business interchange.

Wang Qing, AFF chairman for China, said Asia had a special cultural background and lifestyle. "Though modern science and techniques are making the difference between East and West smaller, a difference in natural environment and aesthetic culture still exists. With the development of economic and design capabilities, and with the similar culture and lifestyle amongst Asian countries, the special fashion culture of Asia is now developing fast and is influencing the world."

He added that Asia could become the centre of world clothing manufacture because of international economic globalisation, and Asia is now affecting world trends. With the strengthening of the region, Asian fashion would become one of the two most important trends for the world, and push the development of world trends.

Asian countries should utilise the advanced techniques and information in Oriental culture, and push the development of Asian designers and Asian fashion brands to create an Asian fashion culture, Qing suggested, pointing out that design and creation is still lacking.

Kim Jong Bok, AFF chairman for Korea, said the world textile and fashion market had already moved from the age of quantity to that of quality in a period of unlimited competition in the world fashion market from the stage of production to the stage of distribution and to the real information age.