The Third Shanghai International Fashion Week is due in this east China's metropolis in mid-October this year, which will be accompanied with a fashion fair and a children's garment show, said sponsor of the fashion week.

A series of activities will be held during the fashion week, including information releases, exhibitions, evaluation of fashion designs, symposiums, forums and fashion purchasing festival.

The sponsoring of the fashion week is targeted at enhancing Shanghai' fashion image and promoting the growth of the city's fashion industry, the sponsor source said.

China has witnessed fast growing consumption in children's garments which is expected to keep an annual average of 8 percent growth in the coming years, with an estimated consumption volume topping 50 billion yuan (about US$6 billion).

With their rising living standards, local consumers are pursuing more fashionable garments, the source said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2005)