More than 7,000 clothing manufacturers, dealers and designers from 14 countries, including China, Germany, France and the United States, are attending the five-day festival.

During the annual event, international trade and investment talks will be held, along with a fashion design competition, a series of clothing forums and fashion briefings.

China's first generation of western-styled tailors grew up in Ningbo at the start of the century. The city has nurtured a group of famous brands, including "Shanshan" and "Younger".

The city now has more than 2,600 clothing manufacturing and processing companies. Last year, their combined output was 27 billion yuan (about US$3.3 billion) and their production volume was 1.3 billion garments.

Some world-famous brands, like Pierre Cardin and Maxim, have based their workshops in the city, whose annual clothing export totals US$900 million, involving over 40 countries and regions.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2001)