“Digital and Smart Fashion "The Exploration and Connection Trip"The event came to a successful close
International Guests Praise LonghuaThe Allure of Fashion, Technology, and Cultural Innovation
As a key supporting event of the 2026 Shenzhen·Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week, the three-day “Digital and Smart Fashion: Exploration and Collaboration Tour,” held from July 17 to 19, concluded successfully. Delegates from Italy, Peru, Malaysia, South Korea, and other countries and regions visited several fashion companies, technology firms, cultural venues, and historic districts in Longhua District. Through on-site visits, live exchanges, and industry matchmaking, they gained an in-depth understanding of the latest achievements in Longhua’s fashion industry, technological innovation, and cultural development, further expanding opportunities for international exchange and cooperation.
On July 17, the international guests visited the Yizhi Hui Centennial Fashion Museum, the New Belle Industrial Park, and the Ying'er Fashion Group headquarters, gaining an in-depth understanding of the development of the fashion industry in Longhua District, as well as its brand-building efforts, digital transformation, and achievements in design innovation.
As a pilot project for the creation of a “world-class fashion town” and one of Longhua District’s seven key development zones, the Dalang Fashion Town in Longhua District is home to a large number of China’s leading apparel and fashion companies. It houses more than 700 fashion enterprises of various types, including Yizhi Hui, New Belle, and Ying’er, with an output value exceeding 10 billion yuan.
From exhibitions showcasing Eastern aesthetics to modern brand management, and from corporate digital showrooms to product R&D spaces, the guests got an up-close look at the latest fashion designs, trendy fabrics, brand collections, and digital display achievements. They gained a detailed understanding of Shenzhen’s fashion industry practices in design innovation, brand incubation, smart manufacturing, and supply chain collaboration, and engaged in in-depth discussions with company executives on topics such as brand globalization, fashion design, and industry cooperation. Throughout the tour, the international guests frequently paused to admire the exhibits, engage in discussions, and take photos, expressing keen interest in Shenzhen’s development path of deeply integrating Eastern aesthetics, technological innovation, and the modern fashion industry.
On July 18, the guests visited the Shenzhen (Longhua) International Cooperation Center, the China·Guolan Original Printmaking Industry Base, and the HarmonyOS Smart Driving User Center, where they engaged in visits and exchanges focused on the development of international cooperation platforms, cultural and artistic exchanges, and smart manufacturing.
At the HarmonyOS Smart Driving User Center, the guests toured the corporate exhibition hall, got into the vehicles to experience the HarmonyOS smart cockpit, and learned about innovative applications such as human-machine interaction and intelligent driving. They also asked questions about the company’s latest achievements in areas such as smart vehicle R&D and smart manufacturing.
Carlos Antonio Mondragon Velasquez, was deeply moved during his visit to the Guanlan Original Printmaking Industrial Base. “The artisans’ exquisite craftsmanship has made me keenly realize that science and technology not only expand the boundless possibilities of creativity and craftsmanship but also help preserve cultural heritage for future generations. “This approach to combining creativity and technology offers valuable insights for international cooperation.”
In the evening, the guests headed to the Luhu Culture and Arts Center to watch the performance “The Movement of Heaven and Earth | Ruan Xian’s Electronic Improvisation Live.” Through this innovative fusion of traditional ethnic instruments and electronic music, they experienced a fresh interpretation of Eastern culture within a contemporary artistic context and gained a deeper understanding of Longhua’s practical explorations in promoting cultural innovation and development.
On July 19, the guests continued their visits to enterprises and cultural landmarks, touring the Huichuan Technology headquarters, Shenzhen Lianard Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., and the Guanlan Old Town, to learn about Longhua’s achievements in smart manufacturing, digital and intelligent development, the application of new materials, and the preservation and revitalization of traditional culture. They gained firsthand insight into how advanced manufacturing and traditional culture mutually empower one another, and further appreciated the city’s unique character, which blends technological innovation with Eastern aesthetics.
At the Guanlan Historic Village, everyone strolled through century-old streets and alleys, visiting historic sites such as Fabric Street and the watchtowers. In front of the sculpture of the “Yizhang Money Exchange,” the guests curiously posed for photos with an abacus. When the tour guide explained that the watchtowers blend Western elements—such as ancient Greek colonnades, Roman arches, and Gothic ornamentation—with traditional Hakka wall paintings and relief carvings of auspicious beasts to create a style that fuses Chinese and Western influences, the guests were filled with admiration, remarking, “A century ago, Longhua was already at the forefront of East-West cultural integration.”
Tommaso Sacchi, Milan’s Commissioner for Culture, stated, “I firmly believe that culture is the deepest foundation of any international relationship. Even before economic agreements and inter-institutional cooperation are established, it is mutual understanding, people-to-people dialogue, and recognition of each other’s identities that lay the foundation for sincere and lasting cooperation.”
During the three-day itinerary, the guests visited high-tech companies, fashion districts, cultural venues, and historic neighborhoods, gaining a comprehensive understanding of Longhua District’s development achievements from multiple perspectives, including industrial innovation, technological applications, and cultural heritage. During the visits, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as international cooperation in the fashion industry, technology-driven design, cultural heritage preservation, and brand globalization.
Several international guests noted that this “Exploration and Connection Tour” not only provided them with an in-depth understanding of Longhua’s achievements in fashion, technology, and culture, but also allowed them to personally experience Shenzhen’s open, inclusive, and vibrant atmosphere of innovation. Longhua’s development approach—which emphasizes using technology to empower industries and culture to spur innovation—offers valuable insights for international cooperation and creates broad opportunities for deeper exchanges and collaboration in the future.
