Shanghai, the Paris of the East opens its arms to Australia

Three of Australias most talented up and coming fashion designers will pave the way for others in Shanghai when the focus will be on Australia during the Austrade event, Celebrate Australia in Shanghai from 21-31 October.

Austrades National Manager, Consumer Robert Sutton said Celebrate Australia is being held against the background of Australias discussions underway for the first ever comprehensive Free Trade Agreement China is negotiating with a major developed economy.

"The relationship between Australia and China is becoming stronger with China predicted to become Australias top export market within five years. Its also the worlds third largest market for luxury goods and services - so now is the perfect time to be showcasing the finer things in life that Australia has to offer," Mr Sutton said.

"Celebrate Australia will showcase the countrys fashion, entertainment, cuisine and business and include events such as fashion shows, an Australian house warming, cooking demonstrations and more."

Austrades Regional Export Adviser, Julianne Merriman said the three emerging talents in fashion design excellence, Kanchi®SYDNEY, Davis Eyes and High Tea with Mrs Woo will take part in fashion events throughout Celebrate Australia.

"Chinese fashion and design buyers are very astute and are becoming increasingly interested in Australian designers and so its the perfect time to showcase these emerging designers while theres a strong focus on Australia," Ms Merriman said.

"Its significant for other fashion designers to examine the pioneering path that Kanchi®SYDNEY, Davis Eyes and High Tea with Mrs Woo are taking in their export marketing efforts to China."

"All three designers provide interesting and unique designs, showing the freshness and uniqueness of Australia from a contemporary edgy perspective. All designers are worldly in terms of knowing whats successful on the fashion arenas worldwide and tailored to those designs while keeping their unique Aussie freshness. "

"They are all incredibly well prepared in terms of marketing collateral and have put a lot of time and energy into mapping out a clear international marketing strategy."

"These three budding designers will be alongside prominent designers, Easton Pearson, Jayson Brunsdon, Fashion Assassin and Ess-Hoshika and for the first time an all Australian fashion showcase will be included in Shanghai Fashion Week on 31st October."

"Austrade has helped all three designers with assistance through the Austrade administered New Export Development Program, by helping them build a profile with international marketing materials and working with them to select the best possible markets for their designs and target buyers within those markets," she said.