Menswear inspired by architecture China fashion week

Chinese consumers are certainly familiar with the concept and style of designs from Northern Europe – furniture retail IKEA being just one example. Fashion designers are trying to reflect the region's cozy lifestyle in new collections presented on the runway at this year's China Fashion Week in Beijing.

One such menswear collection, "Scandinavian Sketches", uses wool, modal fabric and cotton for comfort with masculine black, brown and navy blue colors.

Wu Qingqing, the designer of "Scandinavian Sketches", said darker colors usually bring more of a warm feeling than lighter ones.

"I'm using clean-cut, slim-fit designs instead of complicated patterns. That's the Scandinavian impression in my mind," Wu said

As China Fashion Week rolls on, the China International Clothing and Accessories Fair is also taking place at the China International Exhibition Centre. Although the fair is not the frontline of the fashion industry, it's still a hotbed of rising talent.

Designer Ding Youqiao returned to China after years of studying and working in the UK fashion scene. She has set a goal for herself ― to put out a collection immersed in traditional Chinese aesthetics, but still appreciated by younger generations.

"I usually find my inspirations in Chinese ink paintings. The fabric I used is a mix of satin and linen... Chinese designs, such as the Cheong Sam and the Tangzhuang, are only worn on formal occasions. But I want to bring them into everyday life," Ding said.

From fabrics to tailoring, the fair provides a platform for not only textile and garment manufacturers, but also designers looking to get their designs off paper and into retail stores.