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Published: 00:21, August 26, 2022 | Updated: 09:54, August 26, 2022
Qianhai Fashion Brand District will be a new chapter of fruitful Shenzhen-HK cooperation
By Henry Tan
Published:00:21, August 26, 2022 Updated:09:54, August 26, 2022 By Henry Tan

The Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, one of the major cooperation platforms in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, has rolled out many Hong Kong-related facilitation measures, including entrepreneurship, technology development, and legal and financial services, to assist Hong Kong people and enterprises developing in Qianhai. 

To further leverage the GBA’s edges and integrate GBA cities to achieve national goals, Qianhai should establish a Fashion Brand District, as I proposed to the Central People’s Government during the two sessions in March.

As a cosmopolitan area that is on par with the San Francisco Bay Area and New York Bay Area, the GBA should possess its own iconic and eye-catching landmark that exemplifies its charm and glamour. The Qianhai Fashion Brand District could serve this role as a world-class fashion and garment-sales spot that attracts fashion brands from across Hong Kong, Macao, the Chinese mainland, and overseas to set up regional headquarters and flagship stores. The most stylish and trendiest brands and products would make this district a new fashion hot spot that connects culture, garments and brands.

I suggest the Shenzhen government and Qianhai Administrative Bureau consider designating a site, with a total gross floor area of, say, 500,000 square meters, within the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone. It could be a location near Shekou or other suitable areas that are equipped with basic facilities and infrastructure for the district. Revitalizing historic buildings such as old factories and warehouses would be highly preferable because their architectural styles could perfectly capture the cultural heritage of the GBA, making this a hot tourist photo-taking spot full of design inspiration and fashion ambience.

Brands in the Qianhai Fashion Brand District would also be able to fully leverage the strengths of different GBA cities. Hong Kong could provide R&D expertise, international business network and experienced legal and financial services. Shenzhen has a strong capability in transforming R&D results into commercial products while Dongguan excels in mass production. Not to mention the fact that the GBA itself, with a population of over 86 million, is already a gigantic market and could serve as the springboard to the rest of the mainland market and even to the world.

Special policies to incubate new brands or even a designated zone for young designers can also be considered. Hong Kong young people would be able to connect with and learn from top fashion brands and designs by simply setting foot in Qianhai, a city less than a two-hour drive from Hong Kong; and young fashion designers could also set up shop there and enjoy a bigger horizon for development. The Textile Council of Hong Kong and Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles are willing to take up the role of a guiding bridge that proactively connects and encourages suitable members, international brands, designers and fashion-brand startups to set up bases in Qianhai.

In the long run, I can see the Qianhai Fashion Brand District become a fashion hub that could rival the New York Fashion District and Seoul’s Dongdaemun Fashion Town and a showcase that demonstrates Chinese culture to the world. It would open a new chapter of fruitful Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation and collaboration, and could be an all-win project that could enormously enhance collaboration and integration among all GBA cities.

The author is a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress and chairman of the Textile Council of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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