Chinese designers have made strides in recent years by shifting from copying to developing their own identities based on creativity and culture. More than 200 colleges and universities in China now offer design-related majors, preparing fashion aficionados for jobs in the industry.

The industry has also attracted talented designers who have returned from studying and working abroad, including those who have worked for world-renowned luxury brands such as Celine and Burberry. Designers in China are also experimenting with a mix of design and lifestyle by opening spaces that offer coffee, books, exhibitions, and clothes.

Instead of just selling products or services, Chinese fashion companies are now also selling culture. China's strong manufacturing power has laid a solid foundation for the development of the fashion industry, allowing ideas to be executed and products to be sold more efficiently.

As Chinese manufacturers try to move up the value chain as part of the country's Made in China 2025 plan, designers in China are working to reinvent themselves from mere imitators to innovators.

Unlike in France or Italy, China's fashion industry took off around the same time as the development of the internet, which made it easier for industry insiders to have an internet mindset and computer skills. Technology is helping fashion designers with tailored marketing and flexible production, making personalized customer experiences possible.