After T-Bills and T-Shirts: China’s Role in “High” and “Low” Fashion After the Global Economic Crisis

This paper analyzes the role of fashion design in Chinese industrial development in light of the structural changes brought on by the global economic crisis. The Chinese textile and apparel sector will rely less on exports to the US and EU and more on the domestic market. We analyze the capacity of Chinese fashion designers to shift their focus, from global brands to a distinctive Chinese look, with appeal at domestic Chinese markets for low, medium, and high fashion.