Emerging designers at the Vancouver Fashion Week have showed a strong interest in gaining a larger market share in the rapidly growing Chinese market as the fashion industry has seen sluggish growth amid the pandemic.

The Vancouver Fashion Week, which kicked off Wednesday till Sunday, is the second largest fashion week in North America and is known for its support of emerging designers with its global perspective and highly multicultural approach.

Themed "upgrade challenges", designers have been encouraged to use recycled materials to create ready-to-wear collections. Sustainability has been the primary design concept.

Many designers showed a strong interest in the Chinese market and brands in a time of uncertainty.

"I think it's huge, a huge economy. The country is really pushing forward to go again and come back again with other strategies for new designers, upcoming brands. So why not China? I think it's great market," said Neithan Herbert, one of the designers from Mexico.

"I need to have collaboration. I'm working with other designers, especially in China. We love that," said Kurriizma, one of the designers from the United States.

Noting that Chinese consumers have been buying local brands during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamal Abdourahman, founder of Vancouver Fashion Week, expects this trend to continue.

"The Chinese market has been the most exciting in the last 20 years. Lots of Chinese consumers were buying local and I hope that movement can continue on. I'm sure it will continue," said Jamal Abdourahman, founder of Vancouver Fashion Week.