In the atmospheric setting of Galleria Meravigli, Milan Fashion Week welcomed back Keqiao — one of China’s leading textile districts — for its second official appearance on the calendar. The event offered a refined showcase of emerging design voices from the region, reinforcing the growing relationship between Keqiao and Italy’s fashion capital through a creative and industrial partnership now entering its second year.
The show was part of a wider three-year agreement between Keqiao and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI), positioning the collaboration as a model for long-term cultural and business exchange. Far from a one-off presentation, the runway format reflected a strategic effort to merge Italian fashion’s creative legacy with Keqiao’s industrial strength and rising design innovation.
This season, the runway spotlight fell on four young Chinese labels, each offering a distinct point of view shaped by craft, concept, and cultural narrative. Uncoded, launched by designer Miao Ho in 2022, opened with minimal yet fluid silhouettes defined by sartorial finesse. Pinhui, founded by Pinhui Zhao, delivered polished everyday elegance, designed for women seeking strength in simplicity. Roseocean, the project of Zhao Shiwei, blended Eastern influences with contemporary streetwear, while Xunruo explored more conceptual territory, using materials in unexpected and often sculptural ways.
The diversity of aesthetics underscored Keqiao’s dual identity — rooted in textile manufacturing, but increasingly attentive to style innovation. What once was known primarily as a production hub is evolving into a space that also nurtures design vision, storytelling, and creative experimentation.
This return to Milan Fashion Week signaled continued progress toward Keqiao’s integration into the global fashion ecosystem. While the tone remained measured and focused, the show subtly emphasized its broader aim: not only to present garments, but to foster international connections and celebrate emerging talent on a respected global stage.
As fashion becomes more collaborative and cross-cultural, Keqiao’s participation reflects a wider shift in how we define influence and exchange. It’s a sign of what’s to come — a quieter, more integrated model of fashion diplomacy, grounded in shared knowledge, mutual growth, and a long-term outlook.
