Macau is known as one of China’s cities that’s most open to western culture and its tourists. It’s also famous for its huge and luxurious casinos, impressive heritage, and quite a unique cuisine.
However, at the end of October, tourists and locals also get to enjoy the Macao Fashion Festival (aka MFF), where designers get to present their latest collections, and viewers enjoy an explosive show. The catwalk at MFF is ideal for both established and up-and-coming fashion designers, and it’s getting more and more popular from one edition to another.
For instance, in 2018, the festival featured 39 designers and fashion labels from the Cross-Straits, Hong Kong, Macao, and other regions of the world such as Portugal. The Fashion Area of the festival exhibited 16 local fashion labels, and participants got to enjoy six professional fashion shows, during which 340 pieces of fashion items were showcased.
The History of the Macao Fashion Festival
In 2019, we celebrate the 3rd edition of the festival, so it’s already a tradition for anyone familiar with the industry. This year, the MFF was organized by Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM) and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) between 17 and 23 October at the Florence Room of the Macao Venetian.
While it may look young, compared to other events in the industry (such as the glamorous Paris Fashion Week), the Macao Fashion Festival is already on all the international fashion calendars.
Why Is It So Popular?
The festival addresses both the fashion industry and the general public and attracts a very different crowd compared to other events.
This is due to the fact that Macau attracts a wide array of tourists, from different backgrounds and preferences. This colourful crowd is brought together by the uniqueness of the location and the wide array of touristic attractions that appeal to the western culture.
For instance, Macau’s casinos combined with the beautiful sights create a touristic offer that’s difficult to resist. Unlike many European countries and US states, here gambling tourism is the biggest source of revenue, so it is encouraged. Furthermore, people can choose between a luxurious brick and mortar casino or a casino online, depending on their mood.
As such, there is no wonder that fashion shows and other entertainment events are so popular around here.
What to Expect in The Future?
Given that Macau is quite a popular touristic attraction and that at the end of October they also have a fashion week, the future seems bright for this type of event. For instance, during Fashion Week 2019, the general public could view a series of ready-to-wear collections and the upcoming autumn/winter collections. People also had access to a wide array of retail workshops and stores placed in casinos like the Four Seasons, Parisian, Venetian, and Cotai Central.
As the area grows, so does the local fashion industry, which is expected to reach glamorous levels in the upcoming years. Right now, anyone interested has access to around 850 high-fashion stores, which is the largest duty-free luxury shopping experience.
Overall, the Macao Fashion Festival and the Fashion Week manage to create a wonderful celebration of all things fashion. Soon, Macau is expected to become a serious competitor for the biggest fashion capitals of the world, such as Milan or Paris!
Wrap Up
The good news is that a thriving fashion industry attracts a wide range of producers and products. As such, the area is getting more attention from luxury jewellery and watch producers, the skincare and cosmetics industry, high-end fabrics, and more.
