Shenzhen-Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week Kicks Off in Grand Style
Digital IntelligenceLonghua “Weaving"As forGlobal Fashion DialogueBridges
On the evening of July 17, the 2026 Shenzhen-Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week (hereinafter referred to as “Twin Cities Fashion Week”), themed “Digital and Intelligent Fashion: An Eastern Expression,” kicked off in grand style at the Dalang Fashion Town in Longhua District.
The opening night kicked off with *Overture of Two Cities*, a performance featuring Cantonese opera, the Ao fish, and international supermodels. The lively and dynamic Ao fish “leapt” onto the stage, gliding gracefully across it. According to legend, the Ao fish is the transitional form of the carp before it leaps through the Dragon Gate to become a dragon. It symbolizes transformation, progress, and good fortune, signifying the pinnacle of success and a bright future. The Cantonese opera performance presented by Zeng Xiaomin’s team seamlessly blended traditional Cantonese opera aesthetics with the style of international supermodels, offering a refreshingly new experience.
With a “Flying Apsaras” screen and a light show, brands from China and Italy took the runway together in a dazzling display; multiple memorandums of understanding were signed on-site; and ten cutting-edge fashion technology scenarios were unveiled. renowned singer Ado performed “Born to Drum,” the Dong Ethnic Group Children’s Choir from the rural town of Kaili in Guizhou sang “Echoes of the Valley,” and young dancer Alman Ainiwar presented the dance “Echoes of the Earth,” creating a spectacular fashion extravaganza that seamlessly blended Eastern aesthetics with digital and intelligent technology.
In recent years, Longhua District has been committed to leveraging digital technology to empower the fashion industry and using ecological initiatives to drive industrial development. In 2024, the inaugural Shenzhen-Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week successfully kicked off, and the event is now in its third edition. Building on the sustained collaboration and two-way engagement between Shenzhen and Milan, the Twin Cities Fashion Week has evolved from a single fashion event into a multilateral industrial cooperation platform and a key driver for the upgrading of the fashion industry.
Wang Wei, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and Secretary of the Longhua District Party Committee, stated: “Looking ahead, Shenzhen will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Milan, transforming the Twin Cities Fashion Week into a never-ending platform for creative presentations, a hub for industry collaboration, and a window for mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations.”
Tommaso Sacchi, Deputy Mayor of Milan; Qian Qile, Deputy Consul General of the Italian Consulate General in Guangzhou; Maria Rosa Azzolina, President of the Italy-China Foundation; Francesco Mora, Mayor of Pellezzano, Italy, and President of ANCI for the Campania Region; Ponches, Ambassador and Consul General of Peru to Guangzhou; Lin Jie, Chairperson of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Lei Biao, Standing Committee Member of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and Deputy Director of the Economic Committee; Wu Hong, Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology; Shuang Dehui, Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Commerce; Zeng Xiaomin, Full-time Vice Chairperson of the Guangdong Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Zhang Ling, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Head of the Publicity Department; Zhang Hua, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government; Wang Wei, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and Secretary of the Longhua District Party Committee; and Wu Yihuan, Vice Chairperson of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference
As well as leaders from relevant municipal-level agencies, the four leading bodies of Longhua District, the Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Laoshan District of Qingdao, Chaoyang District of Shantou, Huicheng District of Huizhou City, Zijin County of Heyuan City, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Shenzhen Representative Office, and Jinjiang City, Fujian Province’s Shenzhen Office, as well as representatives from various fashion industry associations, apparel and fashion brands, designers, media representatives, fashion influencers, and leading figures from all walks of life attended the event.
Opening Night: Six Highlights to Watch in DalangFashion Town
Serving as both the prelude and the highlight of this year’s Twin Cities Fashion Week, the opening ceremony utilized LED multimedia and immersive stage design to evoke the aesthetic essence of the East, blending it with international fashion expressions. It vividly showcased the fusion of fashion between Shenzhen and Milan, outlining a promising vision for diverse fashion collaboration across Asia and the Pacific.
A fashion extravaganza that captivates both the eyes and the mind, featuring six key highlights throughout the event.
A star-studded lineup of distinguished guests; an event of the highest caliber(math.) genusThe coverage is the widest ever.This year’s Twin Cities Fashion Week not only brought together distinguished guests from China and Italy but also welcomed guests from the fashion, design, and technology sectors of Peru, South Korea, Malaysia, Switzerland, and many other countries and regions. More than 400 guests from China and abroad gathered to witness the opening night. This marks the evolution of the Twin Cities Fashion Week from a platform for dialogue between the two cities to a multilateral cooperation platform that extends across the Asia-Pacific region and connects with Europe.
Aoxu,Cantonese OperaandSupermodelA Cross-Genre Spectacular, in an instantLiven up the atmosphere..The event kicked off with *Overture to Two Cities*. As giant fish and Cantonese opera elements shared the stage with international supermodels, and as the millennia-old craftsmanship of Lingnan collided and blended with the language of the international fashion runway, the beauty of traditional opera’s stylized movements was reinterpreted on the catwalk.
Chinese and Italian brands join forces on the runway for a dialogue between Eastern and Western aesthetics.The most anticipated brand runway shows of the opening night brought the event to a climax. Italian brands Domenico Orefice, Casa Preti, and momonì joined forces with Chinese designer brand HUI and luxury down brand RAXXY to interpret the dialogue between Chinese and Italian aesthetics through their respective fashion languages. The pioneering deconstruction of Italian tailoring and the subtle expression of Eastern aesthetics shone in perfect harmony on the runway, and the collision of Eastern and Western design philosophies became the evening’s most captivating fashion highlight.
MultipleIndustrial Cooperation AgreementWith the signing of the agreement, practical industrial cooperation has borne fruit.A signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also held at the opening event, where several preliminary cooperation agreements were reached. For example, the Peruvian National Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Shenzhen Longhua District Key Area Construction Promotion Center, and the Shenzhen Industrial Design Industry Association signed the “China-Peru Innovation Design Hub” project. The three parties will jointly establish the China-Peru Design Innovation Hub in Shenzhen to promote the in-depth integration of cultural creativity and technological innovation between China and Peru. The Da Vinci Museum in Rome, Italy; Shenzhen China-Finland Creative Industry Park Investment and Development Co., Ltd.; and Shenzhen Guoci Yongfengyuan Co., Ltd. signed the “China-Italy Cultural and Tourism IP Joint Development” project. The three parties will engage in in-depth cooperation centered on the development of co-branded cultural and creative products—such as the “Smiling Little Red Cup”—as well as synchronized exhibitions through mutual exhibition spaces in both cities and the mutual licensing and promotion of brand IPs. The Desall Co-creation Platform and the Shenzhen Industrial Design Industry Association signed a collaboration agreement for the China-Italy Design Platform. The two parties will work together to promote platform exchanges, competition promotion, and event collaboration.
“Although Milan and Shenzhen are located in different geographical and cultural contexts, both cities share a broad international perspective. They actively embrace change and look to the future, and through their outstanding achievements in innovation, entrepreneurship, scientific research, and creativity, they have become key hubs in their respective regions. ” “Today, international cooperation has become a strategic asset,” said Tommaso Sacchi, Deputy Mayor of Milan. “It not only promotes economic growth and facilitates the exchange and transfer of expertise, but also creates value through the mutual learning of diverse experiences.”
The "Twin Cities Digital and Smart Fashion Development Initiative" was launched, charting a new blueprint for cooperation.Representatives from China and Italy issued the "Twin Cities Digital and Smart Fashion Development Initiative," charting a clear course for in-depth cooperation between Shenzhen and Milan in areas such as fashion design, cultural creativity, and technological applications.
Zhao Huizhou, a Chinese fashion designer and founder of the Yizhi Hui Fashion Group, stated that previously, there was a severe lack of bridges connecting China—whether for original Chinese designs seeking to expand overseas or for Italian brands looking to enter the Chinese market. The work carried out by the Shenzhen-Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week is precisely about building such bridges between East and West—“continuously making our voices heard, continuously communicating, and continuously engaging.”
Longhua Redefines the “Top 10 Scenarios” of Fashionable Living.During the highly anticipated launch segment on opening night, ten cutting-edge fashion-tech scenarios—including AI Flaw Detection and Smart Cutting, Cloud Rendering and Creative Design, Smart Production and Optimal Scheduling, Digital Accessories, Aerial Embroidery Studio, Smart Printing of Trendy Goods, Smart Fashion for the City, Digital Body Scanning, Smart Design and Manufacturing, and Dual-City Weaving of Light—made their grand debut, becoming the center of attention. These ten fashion technology scenarios span the entire value chain—from design to manufacturing to presentation—and collectively showcase the fashion industry’s cutting-edge explorations in material innovation, smart manufacturing, and interactive experiences, painting a new picture of the industry where “technology empowers fashion and design connects with life.”
Simone Guidarelli, a renowned Italian fashion stylist and creative director, said that what impressed him most was the natural way in which Shenzhen seamlessly blends innovation with cultural identity. “I’ve seen Shenzhen designers use technology not merely as a tool for visual effects, but as a genuine means of creation.”
"Gravity Field" Opens Its Doors to Visitors: Over 100 Exhibits Showcase Eastern Fashion Along the Silk Road
Coinciding with the opening night, the “Digital and Intelligent Fashion: Eastern Aesthetics Gravity Field” officially opened its doors to the public. As the core exhibition platform of this year’s Fashion Week, the Gravity Field draws on Eastern aesthetics as its foundation, is driven by technological innovation, and is guided by industrial transformation. It brings together over 100 exhibits spanning categories such as apparel, jewelry, porcelain, home furnishings, and tech products. Guided by the philosophy of “fashion as form, technology as foundation, and culture as soul,” the exhibition is systematically organized into four thematic sections. The exhibition weaves together a narrative through five chapters—"Entry," "Origins," "Convergence," "Rebirth," and "Homecoming"—to present a gravitational field of fashion collisions that transcends time and space.
From traditional silk weaving to 3D printing, the exhibition allows visitors not only to “see” fashion but also to “touch” it with their own hands and “feel” it immersively. This immersive design—which engages the senses through sight, touch, and feeling—has made “Gravity Field” one of the most popular experiential spaces at this year’s Fashion Week.
“These exhibits are not merely aesthetic works of art; they are also vehicles that bridge traditional craftsmanship and high technology.” Maria Jole Serreli, artistic director of “Digital and Intelligent Fashion: The Gravitational Field of Eastern Expression,” stated, The “Gravitational Field of Eastern Expression” exhibition deeply integrates knitted yarns, semiotics, and high-tech themes, grounding itself in the present, looking back to the past, and looking forward to the future, thereby weaving together the chronological narrative of Eastern expression. “Shenzhen’s technological development is highly forward-looking and serves as a cornerstone for human life and the future of humanity. I also hope that through this exhibition, more Europeans will see and understand Shenzhen, thereby building a two-way bridge between Italy and Shenzhen in the realms of culture, fashion, and tourism.”
More highlights:Industrial Partnership and Networking Trip,Face-to-Face with Companies
On July 18, Fashion Week will also host a series of China-Italy and Asia-Pacific fashion industry matchmaking events, leveraging the Fashion Week platform to strengthen collaboration between the two cities and enhance the region’s international standing. The morning session will focus on “Fashion + Capital,” collaborating with international fashion investment banks to precisely match design resources, supply chains, and domestic and international market channels; the afternoon session will center on “Digital Intelligence + Design” to promote cross-industry integration. Seoul-based BKID Industrial Design Studio will lead an AI design workshop, introducing a new creative paradigm through the concept of “atmospheric programming.”
From a firsthand look at the fashion industry—from museums to production lines—to an immersive experience of urban culture—from the “International Living Room” to ancient Hakka villages—and a comprehensive, in-depth exploration of smart manufacturing and 3D printing, from July 17 to 19, the “Digital and Intelligent Fashion Exploration Tour” will organize international guests to conduct immersive visits to benchmark sites in Longhua District—including digital and intelligent fashion, scientific and technological R&D, intangible cultural heritage innovation, and creative design—engaging in direct, face-to-face exchanges with enterprises to systematically showcase the integrated ecosystem where “technology empowers fashion and design revitalizes the industry.”
Citywide supporting events will also take place simultaneously at multiple landmarks, creating a comprehensive fashion experience that spans five dimensions: fashion and cultural tourism, brand collaborations, consumer experiences, industry resources, and open co-creation. The 10th Shekou Mountain and Sea Art Festival at BINGO!SHEKOU in Nanshan District will organically integrate the Twin Cities Fashion Week with a city-level art IP, leveraging the city’s artistic momentum to propel fashion into the mainstream and further expand this year’s Fashion Week’s urban influence and public engagement.
The 2026 Shenzhen·Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week, organized by the Shenzhen Industrial Design Industry Association, opened on July 17 and will run through July 19. Starting July 18, the exhibition “Digital and Intelligent Fashion: The Gravitational Field of Eastern Expression,” located on the second floor of the Yizhi Hui Centennial Fashion Museum in Dalang Fashion Town, will be open to the public free of charge; no reservation is required to visit.
Now in its third year, the Shenzhen-Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week has consistently used fashion as a medium, industry as a bridge, and culture as a bond to continuously deepen the cooperation mechanism between the two cities and accelerate the establishment of an international cooperation network that connects Europe and extends across the Asia-Pacific region.
Leveraging its strengths in the digital economy and its foundation in the fashion industry, Longhua is continuously bringing together global design resources and connecting with international industrial networks. With an even more open attitude, it is promoting the deep integration of technology, fashion, and culture, showcasing a new era of Eastern expression to the world, and continuously enhancing its international influence and the district’s reputation.
