Just shy of 1000 fashion graduates took part in the 2016 China Graduate Fashion Week in Beijing， with 31 fashion shows staged during the week. A mix of both Chinese and international student designers， from 33 universities and design colleges took part， which was a record high for the initiative.

The Woolmark Company has unveiled an official partnership with China Graduate Fashion Week through the launch of a series of support programs for new designers.

The global authority on wool has launched a new program called Merino Wool Classroom， aimed to inspire， connect and educate the next generation of the fashion industry. Titled “Merino Wool – From Farm to Runway，” the inaugural forum drew hundreds of attendees， including student representatives from 33 institutions， directors from 14 design schools， independent designers and members of the media.

Speakers included Ms. Zhang Ying， Key Account Manager of The Woolmark Company， China， who shared her professional knowledge on Merino wool and introduced The Wool Lab； Mr. Liu Gang Zhong， Deputy General Manager of Product Development of The Nanshan Group who showcased innovations in Merino wool； and Mrs Guo Ruiping， the Director of Direction of Knitting Fashion Design at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and Director of China Knitting Fashion R&D Center， who talked about her many years of experience in Merino wool knitted product design and innovation.

“Merino wool fibres have unlimited potential，” said Mrs Guo. “They are inextricably linked to design. I encourage aspiring designers to really grasp the properties and beauty of these materials， and create works that can highlight their uniqueness.”

The Woolmark Company also announced the funding of the three winners of China Graduate Fashion Week – all upand-coming designers – to travel to Hong Kong in July to experience the International Woolmark Prize Asia regional final， as well as visit The Woolmark Companys new Wool Resource Center. The students sponsorship will provide one weeks worth of training in the versatility of Merino wool， as well as educational and professional meetings with industry experts to help the young creatives take their skills and visions to the next level.

“Through the China Graduate Fashion Week platform we hope to provide support and opportunities for local fashion students to grow and refine their skills，” said The Woolmark Company Marketing Vice President Greater China Jeff Ma.