CHINESE designer Mao Geping got the audience’s attention with some bold creations at the China Fashion Week in Beijing yesterday.

The make-up artist also runs a school, the Mao Geping Image Design Art School, which specialises in make-up design and its students’ graduating shows feature original and creative works.

While Mao’s creations stole the show, online critics said that if last year’s event is anything to go by, copying will be the norm this year.

Mr Wang Qing, chairman of the China Fashion Designers Association, said that copying of foreign designs was a “serious” problem in China.

“Fashion design is a creative process that requires designers to not only understand the development of science and technology, but also that of ideology, history, culture and consumption habits,” he said.

“With improved protection of intellectual property rights and faster changing fashion styles, copying will become more difficult. ” But Mr Liu Yuanfeng, vice-chairman of the China Fashion Designers Association, told Xinhua on Tuesday that the fashion week was a platform for young designers to stand out.

Mr Liu said they had big potential, but their success would depend on their understanding of the fashion industry and their target consumer groups.

“The industry in China is still in its initial stage,” he said. “The general environment for the development of cultural and creative industries is very open. So there are many opportunities for young designers to stand out if they are talented.”

The fashion week, which has almost 70 shows and events, will run until 10 Nov.

This article was first published in The New Paper.