A steady stream of fashion designers, buyers, photographers and celebrities is expected to flock the city for two different fashion weeks that begin later this month.

Shanghai Fashion Week, which runs from October 14 to 19, will feature the designs of Max Mara, Anne Klein, Canali, Max&Co and Kenzo. Organized by the Shanghai Garment Trade Association, the week is divided into two parts: the first part highlighting domestic designers and the second part that is devoted to international brands.

Another high-profile fashion week will be run by the Shanghai International Fashion Center from October 23 to 29. The event will include standard-setting pillars of fashion and fresh domestic designers.

International brands involved in the event include Jean Paul Gaultier, Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel, Vivienne Tam and Nina Ricci. Local designers include Jenny Ji, Lu Kun and Wang Yiyang.

Their shows will be held in a tent in Fuxing Park and at the Friendship Hall in the Shanghai Exhibition Center.

One of the highlights of the week is a "vertical catwalk."

German performers will model a sports collection from Esprit while scaling several of the city's skyscrapers as runway. They will sashay down two tall buildings, Citic Square on Nanjing Road W. and Corporate Avenue in Xintiandi.

The final competition of the Clairol Oriental Model Contest will be held in Shanghai Grand Stage on October 29.

(Shanghai Daily News October 11, 2004)