More positive signals are emerging from China: According to a recent report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the largest fashion showroom in China is ready to be unveiled in Guangzhou. The construction of the Guangzhou TIT Textile and Garment Creative Park south of the city's new TV tower is nearly complete.
The report, prepared by Dionne Liu of HKTDC's Guangzhou Office, goes on to say:
The Park has apparel, fashion and culture as its theme and provides services on fashion news, consultancy, garment inspection and testing as well as professional training. It will encourage prominent Chinese and international fashion designers to set up studios and will invite leading fashion brands to open showcase events.
The RMB [renminbi] 100 million Park covers an area of nearly 100,000 sqm [square meters]. Inside an actual real park, the Park will have a total floor area of about 40,000 sqm when completed.
Phase I of the project ... will have a garment launch centre, fashion designers' studios, lofts, leisure clubs, business dining facilities and others.
The Park can only accommodate about 80 enterprises although more than 200 units and designers have expressed an interest in moving there.
"You can't find a similar place anywhere else in China," said one Park executive. "When completed, LV, Boss and other leading international brands will move in to share the resources. We'll also foster our own talents and international brands and expect to gross over RMB 1 billion after one year."
The 4,500 sqm main structure in the middle of the Park will house South China's largest, costliest and striking fashion runway.
In addition to the fashion display hall, there's a reception hall and a news centre at the northern and southern wings of the building.
Construction has been basically completed and workers are testing the sound system. "Our sound system is imported from Germany and can be synchronously tuned by technicians in Germany," said one manager.
The eastern end of the Park, which houses relatively well-preserved old factory premises built mostly around 1956, has great historical and cultural value. It will mainly house R and D offices and showrooms for fashion enterprises and training facilities jointly run by enterprises and universities.
At the southern end of the Park are small villas designed to serve as work studios and clubhouses for fashion brands.
The northern end is devoted to offices for fashion enterprises, including those for artists, sculptors, photographers, advertising companies and other supporting service providers.
The amenities area at the northern end of the central district houses restaurants, apartments, clubs and red wine cellars. The Park will be managed as a five-star hotel with a butler service.
Two roads run through the Park in a north-south direction. The one on the eastern side is a motorway linking the apartments, hotels, clubs and display halls on both sides while the one on the western side will be lined with stores selling branded luxury goods catering to the needs of fashion models and showbiz celebrities.
