Shanghai Today
Shanghai, Milan - designed to connect - June 25, 2024
上海与米兰通过设计连接彼此
Shanghai native Shi Yue, a junior art director at McCann Worldgroup Italy who has been living in Milan for 10 years, is always amazed by the similarities shared between her hometown and the Italian city.
Open, inclusive, developed, international, and trendy are the words she used to describe the two cities, both serving as global hubs for many industries, in particular, fashion and design.
"The two cities are alike," Shi exclaimed.
Chic clothing on display at Shanghai Fashion Week in March.
Her observation is echoed by two Italians now living in Shanghai — Gabriele Fezia, an Italian architect, artist and curator, and Aldo Cibic, an Italian architect and designer.
"Everybody agrees that Milan and Shanghai have a special connection and there are many similarities — especially in the way that society and people act and think," said Fezia, who comes from Alessandria near Milan and moved to Shanghai in 2000.
On this day in 1979, exactly 45 years ago, Shanghai and Milan joined hands to become the first pair of sister cities between China and Italy. The friendship has been particularly enhanced in light of the passing of the baton between the two World Expos, namely the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and the 2015 World Expo in Milan, thanks to a memorandum of cooperation signed between the organizing committees of both sides.
Shanghai and Milan have fostered more cooperation after 2015, Fezia said. "There have been a lot of initiatives on both sides. They are setting up exhibitions such as the Shanghai branch of the Salon del Mobile — a notable annual furnishing exhibition in Milan since ages ago. It has been a big success (since its inauguration in 2016) and we have seen Italian lifestyle elements promoted on many occasions in China."
Chic clothing on display at Shanghai Fashion Week in March.
That led to profound exchanges between the people of the two cities, both listed in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
"Shanghai, like Milan, is the place where different people meet to know each other, to exchange and to produce. Then after that, you create new opportunities, new business, new design and new possibilities," said Cibic, an honorary professor at Shanghai's Tongji University, who had lived in Milan since 1977 and relocated to Shanghai in 2018.
As an internationally acclaimed designer and architect, and a pivotal contributor to postmodern design as the co-founder of the renowned Memphis Group, Cibic said Shanghai reminds him of Milan's vibrant atmosphere in the 1980s.
"I like incredibly how Shanghai is fashionable, as now here people are expressing themselves through the way they dress, which was the same thing happening in Milan in the '80s… Shanghai and China are becoming now more self-confident with their past," said Cibic.
Mario Boselli, president of the Italy China Council Foundation, a Milan-based nonprofit association dedicated to promoting the development of Sino-Italian relations, has been dealing with China since 1978, the year that the reform and opening-up began. He agrees with Cibic.
Italy's fine products are on display at the Italy Pavilion during the World Expo in Shanghai in May 2010.
Transition sought
"I have known China for more than 40 years, and China developed in this way, at first, in the 1970s, '80s, and even part of the '90s, the goal was to produce more and more. Then, instead, it became more selective. Today, the products presented in China are… very new, important and creative, and they have access to international markets," said Boselli, who is now serving as the honorary president of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion.
"This is China's new trend that I believe to be positive and that will continue in the future."
As China seeks to transition from "made in China" to "designed and created in China", Shanghai's stature in China's fashion and design industry has raised eyebrows worldwide including in Milan, a city known for its vibrant fashion industry highlighting glamorous fashion shows and top luxury brands.
Earlier this year, an exhibition organized by Shanghai Design Week landed in Milan for the first time. Themed "Designing Dragon, Fusion of Tradition & Innovation", the seven-day event in April featured 27 fashion consumer brands, including clothing, accessories, skin care products, and household items, primarily from Shanghai.
Visitors look at designer items at the Shanghai Fashion Day event held in Milan in September.
Luca Fois, the founder of Milan China Design Center, has been keeping an eye on Chinese design for years, and he said he is "very optimistic" about Shanghai's budding fashion community which offers contemporary design that is both innovative and steeped in Chinese heritage.
"The latest generations are very modern, very open to international lifestyle while retaining their Chinese heritage and characteristics," he said. "It is a different story when you start to produce for your own identities, backgrounds, and heritage."
In September, as part of the World Design Cities Conference 2023, a fashion show named Shanghai Fashion Day made waves in Milan, bringing Shanghai fashion brands under the global spotlight.
"It was a big success and received extensive recognition. Through the event, we are surprised to find out that Italians and Europeans are actually very interested in Chinese fashion, with appreciation, respect and yearning," said Song Bo, secretary-general of Shanghai International Fashion Federation, one of the show's organizers.
A model wears creations of a Chinese clothing brand's collection during a fashion event in Milan in June last year.
Boselli was among the distinguished guests present at the Shanghai Fashion Day.
"The new and correct path that the Chinese designers took involves reinterpreting ancient historical elements in a modern way. I find this to be the most positive aspect of Shanghai, as its products are accessible to the international market," said Boselli.
For Shi, who has been involved in the creative industry since 2014, both Shanghai and Milan can excel in industries symbolizing the spirit of creativity, innovation and pioneering.
"Both Shanghai and Milan are very tolerant and inclusive places, and many talented individuals with advanced ideas prefer settling down there," she said. "Moreover, Shanghai and Milan consistently lead other cities in their respective countries in formulating progressive policies. These policies are also flexible, with the governments showing a willingness to adapt to different social and business environments."
A model wears creations of a Chinese clothing brand's collection during a fashion event in Milan in June last year.
Possibilities, opportunities
That's why Fezia saw a lot of possibilities and opportunities in Shanghai.
"Fashion is a good base to set up some good exchange between the two cities. Milan is a little bit like the temple of creativity and the capital city of design. These two cities can serve as the source of inspiration to each other," said Fezia.
In Shanghai, he is not only able to use his specialty in lighting design — his works include the iconic The Bund 18 — but also actively explore arts with advanced digital technologies such as virtual reality and metaverse as the founder of the art gallery Proverse Italia.
"China is pushing more in new technologies and new things, while Italy is richer on a humanistic side," said Cibic, advising the two cities to enhance exchanges in both sectors to innovate "a new technology together with a humanist feeling".
Chinese performer demonstrates her skills at the World Expo in Milan in June 2015.
Song, who spent one month in Milan preparing for the Shanghai Fashion Day, also has high hopes for the potential of future collaboration between the two cities.
"Both the West and us are learning from each other and upgrading. Through the exchanges between Shanghai and Milan, we expect to stand at a new starting point and find a new way to promote the communication and exchanges of cultures in our current contexts," said Song.
Bian Xiangyang, vice-chairman of the China Fashion Association and director of the Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Fashion, indicated that the complementary cooperation between Shanghai and Milan could "empower" each other.
Chinese performer demonstrates his skills at the World Expo in Milan in June 2015.
"Milan fashion and design need to further expand its presence in overseas markets, while Shanghai is home to a large number of fans of Milan brands. And for Shanghai, Milan offers much to learn, such as its integration of the design, manufacturing and service industries within the fashion and design sector," said Bian.
"With exchanges in economic development and culture, both Shanghai and Milan will be more flourishing and achieve a better future," he added.
"For Italian entrepreneurs, Shanghai has shown a more welcoming attitude. So, it continues to be an important gateway to China," said Boselli.
Chinese performer demonstrates her skills at the World Expo in Milan in June 2015.
Boselli pointed out that the twinning between Shanghai and Milan could act as a link between China and Italy.
"The relations between Shanghai and Milan are historically important, and I believe that we need to look at the history to predict the future. The warmth and intensity of the relations between Shanghai and Milan depict the strong connection between China and Italy, and the sister-city friendship will continue to be a bridge between the two great countries in the future."
Source: China Daily
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