"2021 Taipei Fashion Week AW21" kicked off on March 11 at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. Revolving around the theme of "Sustainable Fashion," six Taiwanese designers were invited to expound on the concept of "sustainable fashion" as they join efforts with the domestic textile industry in blending functional fabrics with fashion aesthetics.
Those present at the event included Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te, legislators Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) and Wang Wan-yu (王婉諭), Vice Minister of Culture Lee Lien-chuan (李連權), Bureau of Foreign Trade chief secretary Chiang Wen-juo (江文若), Formosa Plastics Group President Wang Wen-yuan (王文淵) and Chairman and CEO of Far Eastern Group Douglas Hsu (徐旭東).
Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te, in his opening speech, pointed out the challenge in organizing the first physical fashion show to take place since the outbreak of COVID-19, and commended the government and people for their effective prevention and control efforts against the pandemic.
The Culture Minister noted that this year's Taipei Fashion Week AW21 places emphasis on environmental sustainability, including in the area of clothing production and delivery of raw materials.
"For instance, the clothes I am wearing are made out of organic fabric, some of them from recycled materials to help reduce burden on the planet," Lee said, pointing to the clothes he was wearing by Taiwanese fashion brand WEAVISM.
Lee indicated that the other important aspect of the fashion week is to provide designers the opportunity to forge connections with major textile manufacturing companies, so as to form an integrated industrial chain starting from the production of textiles to clothing design and finally, to marketing.
"I have faith that through the vitality and capabilities of the traditional weaving industry at home, coupled with the talent of designers, Taiwan's fashion week will be able to enter the world stage and become one of the important centers of global fashion trends," Lee added.
The six clothing brands invited to the opening included #DAMUR, WEAVING, oqLiq, JUST IN XX, Claudia Wang, and DYCTEAM, each of whom has incorporated the concept of "sustainable fashion" into their diverse range of fashion designs.
Several artists and internet celebrities were also invited to participate on stage, including Japanese YouTuber Tommy, the band EggPlantEgg (茄子蛋), lead singer Marz23 (林志融) of TRASH band (TRASH樂團) and musician Yellow (黃宣) among others.