Traditional Cantonese Opera Meets an International Supermodel
Chinese and Italian Brands Share the Runway
Top 10 Fashion-Tech Scenarios Unveiled at a Special Event
On the evening of July 17, the opening night of the 2026 Shenzhen·Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week (hereinafter referred to as the “Twin Cities Fashion Week”) was packed with highlights.
Organized by the Shenzhen Industrial Design Industry Association, this year’s Twin Cities Fashion Week will be held primarily at the Dalang Fashion Town in Longhua District and will feature a series of fashion events centered on the theme “Digital and Intelligent Fashion: An Eastern Expression.”
More than 400 guests from China and abroad gathered
Twin-City Dialogue Moves Toward Multilateral Cooperation
At the opening ceremony, more than 400 Chinese and international guests gathered to witness the grand opening of the event. In addition to the continued participation of distinguished guests from China and Italy, representatives from the fashion, design, and technology sectors in countries and regions such as Peru, South Korea, Malaysia, and Switzerland joined the event for the first time.
From exchanges between Shenzhen and Milan to multilateral cooperation that connects Europe and extends across the Asia-Pacific region, the Twin Cities Fashion Week is continually expanding the boundaries of international cooperation.
Stingray, Cantonese Opera, Supermodels
A Dialogue Across Time and Space
The opening night kicked off with *Overture of Two Cities*, a performance featuring a blend of 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, ambition, and good fortune, and signifies coming out on top and a bright future.
The Cantonese opera performance presented by Zeng Xiaomin’s team sparked a dialogue across time and space between traditional Lingnan culture and the international language of fashion.
Chinese and Italian Brands Join Forces for a Fashion Show
A Clash of East and West
Italian brands Domenico Orefice, Casa Preti, and momonì joined forces with Chinese brands HUI and RAXXY Ruixi to make a joint appearance.
A pioneering deconstruction of Italian tailoring meets the understated expression of Eastern aesthetics. Design languages from different regions and cultural backgrounds engaged in a captivating dialogue on the runway.
Top 10 Fashion-Tech Scenarios Unveiled
Technology Is Redefining Fashion
Fashion is not only a form of visual expression; it is also becoming an important application area for technological innovation.
At the opening ceremony, ten major fashion-tech scenarios were unveiled: AI Flaw Detection and Smart Cutting, Cloud Rendering and Creative Design, Smart Production Planning, Digital Accessories, Aerial Embroidery, Smart Printing of Trendy Products, Smart Apparel for the City, Digital Body Scanning, Smart Design and Manufacturing, and “Weaving Light Across Two Cities.” with the power of technology permeating the entire chain from design and manufacturing to exhibition and service.
These innovative scenarios offer a glimpse into the future direction of the fashion industry: technology is no longer merely a supporting element behind fashion; it is becoming an integral part of fashion expression.
Initiative on Digital and Smart Fashion Development in the Twin Cities Unveiled
Several Cooperation Agreements Were Signed on the Spot
This event was not only a fashion extravaganza but also a further deepening of industrial cooperation. At the opening ceremony, representatives from China and Italy jointly launched the “Dual-City Digital and Smart Fashion Development Initiative.” Several industrial cooperation agreements were signed on the spot, driving more international and industrial resources toward the Dual-City Fashion Week.
The Peruvian National Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Shenzhen Longhua District Key Area Development Promotion Center, and the Shenzhen Industrial Design Industry Association signed the “China-Peru Innovation Design Hub” project. The Da Vinci Museum in Rome, Italy; Shenzhen China-Finland Creative Industry Park Investment and Development Co., Ltd.; and Shenzhen Guoci Yongfengyuan Co., Ltd. will sign the “China-Italy Cultural and Tourism IP Joint Development” project. The Desall Design Co-creation Platform and the Shenzhen Industrial Design Industry Association will sign a collaboration agreement for the China-Italy Design Platform.
From a single encounter to an ongoing partnership, the bond between the two cities is growing stronger, and so is the trust between them.
Gravitational Field
New Expressions of Eastern Aesthetics
Unveiled alongside the opening night was this year’s Fashion Week’s central exhibition space—the “Digital and Smart Fashion: Oriental Expression Gravity Field.” Starting on the 18th, the Gravity Field will also be open to the public free of charge, with no advance reservation required.
Rooted in the local, reaching out to the world; blending innovation, returning to our essence. The exhibition hall brings together over a hundred exhibits spanning various fields, including apparel, jewelry, porcelain, home decor, and technological products. Through five thematic chapters—Arrival, Origins, Convergence, Rebirth, and Return to the Heart—the narrative weaves together a new vision of the integrated development of Eastern aesthetics and modern technology.
From traditional looms to silk weaving techniques and digital interactive installations, visitors can not only watch but also participate. With experiences to see, touch, and feel, fashion moves from the exhibition space into everyday life.
“Digital and Intelligent Fashion: The Gravitational Field of Eastern Expression”—Artistic Director Maria Jole Serreli expressed her hope that this exhibition will allow more European audiences to see and understand Shenzhen, and promote further exchanges and connections between Italy and Shenzhen in the fields of culture, fashion, and tourism.
More exciting content to come:
Industry Matchmaking and Networking Trips Are Underway
Following the opening, the Twin Cities Fashion Week will continue to deliver even more exciting events.
On July 18, a series of China-Italy and Asia-Pacific fashion industry matchmaking events will take place. The morning will feature the China-Italy Fashion Technology Pitch and Industry Matchmaking Session, focusing on “Fashion + Capital” and collaborating with international fashion investment banks to facilitate precise matchmaking among design resources, supply chains, and market channels. In the afternoon, centered on “Digital Intelligence + Design,” the Seoul-based BKID Industrial Design Studio will host an AI design workshop to explore new possibilities for artificial intelligence to empower creative design.
At the same time, the “Digital and Smart Fashion: A Journey of Exploration and Connection” event will also kick off. Guests from various countries will visit the front lines of Longhua’s industries—from museums to production lines, and from the International Living Room to ancient Hakka villages—to experience the city’s ecosystem, where technology, industry, and culture converge and develop together.
Citywide events such as the Nanshan Shekou Mountain and Sea Arts Festival will also take place simultaneously in various urban spaces.
The 2026 Shenzhen·Milan Twin Cities Fashion Week 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.
Digital and Intelligent Fashion, an Oriental Expression
From the Runway to Industry Partnerships
From Traditional Culture to Digital and Intelligent Technology
From Eastern Expression to Global Dialogue
Shenzhen and Milan
We continue to write the next chapter of the fashion story together
