Li Danqi, vice-chairman of the China Fashion Association, said:"The designers are manuring now.They are more sophisticated busnesses,not just begging sponsorship from big companies."

    A total of 21 shows by Chinese designers are scheduled over the week,which runs until November 26.Most of the shows are held at the Bejing Hotel and the China World Hotel,which is next to Beijing's leading luxury designer mall.

    Four of the designers showed in Paris for the first time in October as part of an historic first group show on the official Chambre Syndicale schedule.They include Luo Zheng,who designs the lavel Omnialo, and Liang zi,designer of the Tangy brand.

    Luo Zheng ad Liang Zi were the winners of China's designer of the year award in 2002 and 2001 respectively.Among the judges of this year's award is Roger Tredre,editor in chief of WGSN.

    Tredre said:" Outside China, no one knows much about the new generation of designers emerging across the country.At WGSN,we see it as our role to monitor these names before they break on an international stage."Shanghai has established a rival fashion week,staged for the first time last month, which aims to serve as an international platform for foreign brands launching in the Chinese market.

    In a country the size of China,there may well be room over time for two fashion weeks to ghrive.However, the prospect of seasonal rivalry between fashion weeks in Beijing and Shanghai is clearly not helpful to a designer industry still in its fledgling stage.

    International press and buyer interest in either of the fashion weeks is very limited indeed.however, most Chinese designers are only interested-rather than obsessed-by export opportunities.Currently, they have plenty of business drum up at home.