Take note: Color is on the radar in China.
Color is an important part of the Chinese fashion apparel scene. Now that awareness and importance of it is spreading, and build in importance for the future.
It was my honor and pleasure to be invited to speak at the 4th Annual China Color Forum, hosted by the China Fashion Color Association. The event was held in Wuxi, China from September 20-22. It was attended by nearly 400 designers, architects, urban planners, historians, personal color consultants, textile designers, printers, product developers, marketing experts, educators and university students from China, Korea and Japan.
I was the only cowgirl from the US.
There workshops are held in different locations every year. There are color workshops for members to forecast color two years out. Educational seminars and speaker forums feature speakers from all different industries. During these sessions, the audience and media interacts with experts. Translators for four different languages allow all attendees to hear the messages delivered in their own language through channel head-sets. Many of the speakers were Japanese, coming from high profile companies such as Toyota, Nippon Paint, Nissan, LG Electronics, and Sony ensure that Chinese design will be influenced by their neighbors to the East.
Although there is a strong Japanese presence now thanks to the support of the Japan Fashion Color Association, I would anticipate one day soon these forums will be dominated by speakers from China. The Chinese are investing in education of the next generation by allowing the attendance of many young designers and university students at this event. I estimated 60% of the attendees were under 30 years old, which was an overwhelming presence. They are passionately eager to learn anything about color marketing, and unencumbered by language as many of them multi-lingual.
The atmosphere at the evening banquets was festive. The audience was entertained by local singers and talented dancers. As the night went on, color celebrities went on stage to award honors, give toasts, and sing kareoke with the crowd. It was indeed a very colorful event that will keep people coming back for years to network, learn and dream about the future of the color industry in Asia.
My experience with the CFCA began when I met Mr. Yifu, the Secretary General of CFCA two years ago at a press conference in Beijing. His staff were well organized and terrific to work with, and I would encourage anyone doing business in the Asian sector to contact them for more details about upcoming Forums in 2008.
