The quest for the Holy Grail for Chinese fashion designers, the 7th Dishang China Fashion Design Award, has begun in Beijing, and organizers are collecting submissions from contestants nationwide.
Since China Fashion Association launched the biennial contest in 1997, it has been viewed as the fastest road for domestic designers to make a name for themselves abroad.
Previous winners, such as Gao Wei, Wang Yutao and Guo Yuanzheng, all earned overnight fame after plucking the prizes, and have since grown to become China's top trendsetters.
Preference is given to contestants who've placed within the top three spots in other national design competitions.
The organizing committee requires competitors to provide their fashion forecasts for the upcoming season - and readymade dresses to match.
The panel then evaluates the works based on craftsmanship, fabric, innovation and color selection.
The final round and awarding ceremony will be staged during China Fashion Week in March.
