On April 14, local time, the 2025 Shenzhen (Longhua) & Milan Lifestyle Week (hereafter referred to as "the Lifestyle Week") came to a perfect close in Milan, Italy.

This fashion exchange event attracted global fashion enthusiasts, industry elites, and media attention, successfully building a new platform for dialogue between the Chinese and Italian fashion industries, injecting fresh vitality into the development of the global fashion industry.

The event was also featured on CCTV’s General Channel, highlighting the cultural fusion of Eastern craftsmanship and Western aesthetics.

Over the six-day event, three major themed activities, each with unique features and highlights, were presented.

Through these three themes, the Lifestyle Week successfully established a strong bridge for Sino-Italian fashion industry exchange and cooperation, marking a new coordinate of openness and collaboration on the global fashion map, and powerfully promoting deeper integration and mutual advancement in the fashion sector.

01

A Stunning Debut: Robots Take Center Stage
"Technology + Fashion + Cultural Heritage" Defines New Fashion Narratives

At 6:00 PM on April 9 (local time), the Lifestyle Week officially opened in Milan.

During the opening ceremony, the humanoid robot "Kuavo" from Leju Robot, dressed in Chinese brand HUI’s designs, appeared on stage alongside a traditional embroidery artist, together showcasing the beauty of Eastern aesthetics and stealing the spotlight.

Curator Giacomo Santucci, renowned Chinese designer Zhao Huizhou, and other fashion industry luminaries stopped to interact, experiencing firsthand the unique charm of the crossover between technology and fashion.

Taking a Photo with Leju Robot’ "Kuavo"

At the "Art Beyond Borders – Shenzhen & Milan Cultural Design Showcase," over a hundred innovative products rooted in Eastern craftsmanship made a stunning appearance.
Through the innovative concept of "technology as the backbone, fashion as the form, and intangible cultural heritage as the soul," the showcase highlighted Shenzhen’s technological strength and cultural confidence as a rising global fashion industry hub.

Guests wandered among Renaissance-era artworks and cutting-edge tech products from Shenzhen, feeling the powerful clash between East and West, tradition and the future.

Scene from the "Art Beyond Borders – Shenzhen & Milan Cultural Design Showcase"

Stefano Antonelli, the academic director of the exhibition, remarked, "Shenzhen demonstrates a forward-looking cultural vision, while Milan is steeped in rich cultural heritage. Their fusion will open a new chapter of development for both sides."

The debut of Shenzhen’s robot in Milan quickly sparked widespread attention from international media.

From traditional embroidery to intelligent technology, from Eastern aesthetics to global expressions, the fusion display of "Technology + Fashion + Cultural Heritage" not only delivered an unprecedented sensory experience, but also pushed the boundaries of the fashion industry through innovation, building a bridge for cultural exchange between China and Italy.

02

Hundreds of Brands, Hundreds of Products, and Hundreds of Media Outlets:
Chinese Innovation Becomes a Global Sensation

This year’s Shenzhen & Milan Lifestyle Week sailed abroad and created a "Chinese Wave" during Milan Design Week.

Shenzhen enterprises, along with domestic innovators, joined forces to present the profound richness of Chinese culture and the allure of Chinese innovation to the world through pioneering design and technological excellence.

"Going global is backed by technological strength; expanding horizons fuels innovation; building brands is the mission of our era," said Huang Zhengyu, Marketing Director of Shenzhen DAMODA Intelligent Control Technology Co., Ltd., capturing the essence behind China’s innovation wave sweeping abroad.

At the "Art Beyond Borders – Shenzhen & Milan Cultural Design Showcase," companies like HONOR, Leju Robot, Chow Tai Seng, and nanoAR Technology showcased their cutting-edge achievements —from AI advancements to exquisite jewelry craftsmanship, from dazzling smart display technologies to breakthrough materials.

More than a hundred exhibits from diverse Shenzhen sectors gathered inside a century-old cathedral in Milan, offering a full-spectrum, multidimensional display of the unique charm of Chinese innovation to the world.

Exhibits from China

"If Shenzhen’s first appearance at the prestigious 100% Design London exhibition in 2011 marked Version 1.0 of Chinese design going global, then this 2025 Shenzhen & Milan Lifestyle Week—featuring the integration of technology, design, art, humanities, and intangible cultural heritage—signals the beginning of Version 2.0,"
said Shirley Feng, President of the Shenzhen Industrial Design Profession Association.

She emphasized that this upgrade means Shenzhen’s fashion industry is no longer limited to simple product exports, but is emerging on the international stage through its rich and diverse cultural essence.

"Our future goal is to expand our brand presence globally, creating differentiated brands with competitive advantages in local markets," said Huang Xinzhong, Chairman of Shenzhen LOHO E-commerce Co., Ltd. He expressed hope that, by leveraging the international platform of the Lifestyle Week, the company could showcase a range of fashionable and tech-driven products to help global consumers better understand Shenzhen brands.

HONOR, as a leading example of a Chinese brand that has successfully expanded overseas, has accumulated rich experience in "going global."
Pier Giorgio Furcas, Deputy General Manager of HONOR Italy, shared that the company is innovation-driven, establishing a strong global brand image through leading technologies and high-quality products.

At the same time, HONOR actively fosters industry development and builds close partnerships with various sectors worldwide, bringing outstanding innovations to consumers around the globe — fully demonstrating the significance and value of Chinese enterprises participating in global markets.

This grand event, blending culture and technology, captured significant attention from global media. Major outlets such as CCTV and Italy's Corriere della Sera provided focused coverage.

When Eastern wisdom meets Western aesthetics, when traditional culture collides with modern technology, the world witnesses Chinese brands entering the global innovation dialogue with a fresh, dynamic presence.

As more and more Chinese enterprises expand internationally, Chinese innovation is steadily becoming an indispensable driving force in the global innovation landscape.

03

A Global Cooperation Platform Established:
Joining Forces to Open a New Chapter of International Collaboration

On April 9, the official unveiling of the world’s first "Shenzhen (Longhua) - Milan Fashion Trade and Economic Cooperation Office" marked a new stage of industrial collaboration between the two cities.

This innovative platform will serve as a bridge for resource integration between Shenzhen and Milan, gathering vast, first-hand industry and commercial information,
helping Chinese brands deeply integrate into the international fashion industry chain, and providing strong momentum for Longhua enterprises to expand into global markets.

Meanwhile, the launch of the Shenzhen & Milan Lifestyle Week global website will offer investment landing consultation and matching services between the two cities,
providing powerful support for the Longhua fashion industry cluster to secure a favorable position within the global value chain.

Official Launch of the "Shenzhen (Longhua) - Milan Fashion Trade and Economic Cooperation Office"

On April 10, the "Fashion and Tradition: Shenzhen (Longhua) - Milan Culture Exchange Meeting" was successfully held.

Through a comprehensive business promotion presentation, Longhua District showcased its industrial advantages, attracting significant attention from Milanese enterprises.
Several strategic cooperation agreements were reached on-site, achieving deep integration of high-quality resources from both sides.

Top figures from the Chinese and Italian fashion industries, as well as representatives from leading universities, gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on the innovative development and diverse integration of the global fashion industry, sparking intellectual exchanges and injecting fresh vitality into the global fashion ecosystem.

Fashion and Tradition: Shenzhen (Longhua) - Milan Culture Exchange Meeting

This year’s Lifestyle Week facilitated the signing of several major projects across various fields, including ceramic arts, brand management, and design innovation.

In addition, the Key Area Development Promotion Center of Longhua District signed a deep cooperation agreement with the CISE School of Politecnico di Milano, focusing on architecture, industrial design, furniture, and the fashion industry.

Meanwhile, Here Fashion Hub (HFH) will set up its domestic office at the INPARK Cultural and Creative Park in Dalang Fashion Town, further signaling the continuous gathering of high-end international resources in Longhua and injecting new momentum into the local industry.

04

From "Fashion" to Multiple Fields:
The Twin Cities Model Breaks Boundaries and Upgrades

In 2024, the first Shenzhen & Milan Fashion Week, with "fashion" as its starting point, successfully built a preliminary bridge of communication between Shenzhen and Milan, yielding fruitful cooperation in the fashion sector and showcasing immense collaborative potential between the two cities.

This year, the Shenzhen & Milan Lifestyle Week significantly expanded its boundaries — extending its scope from pure "fashion" into broader fields including technology, lifestyle, and culture.

The collaboration between the two cities has evolved from simple interactions to pioneering a new global model for innovation within the fashion industry.

"Welcoming Shenzhen during Milan Design Week not only builds a bridge between Shenzhen and Milan, but also offers an important opportunity for global integration,"
said Barbara Mazzali, Councillor for Tourism, Fashion, Design, and Regional Marketing of the Lombardy Region.

As one of the world's largest and most influential design events, Milan Design Week has always been a leader in global design trends and a vital platform for innovation.
The inclusion of the Shenzhen & Milan Lifestyle Week in the official schedule of Milan Design Week is undoubtedly a strong recognition of its value and impact.

Among the highlights, the "Art Beyond Borders – Shenzhen·Milan Cultural Design Showcase" has attracted significant attention since its opening, drawing large crowds and exceeding expectations in popularity.

It has been announced that the exhibition will be extended until April 21, allowing more visitors to experience the unique charm of this Sino-Italian cultural fusion.

The expansion of the Shenzhen & Milan Lifestyle Week’s scope is a vivid manifestation of Shenzhen and Milan’s commitment to a shared, collaborative, and sustainable vision of fashion.

Looking ahead, the two cities are poised to continue exploring innovation through their unique cooperation model, lead fashion trends, and contribute even more "Chinese strength" to the future development of the global fashion industry.