Arriving in China for the first time can only be described as an assault on all your senses all at once. The first impression you get of Shanghai is a concrete jungle; with masses of elegant high rise buildings as far as the eye could see. The streets swarmed with people and the sound of beeping car horns hits you instantly on leaving the airport, making it very clear to me, on my first visit to China with the buying team, I had landed in the manufacturing capital of the world.
We were picked up and driven to our hotel for a very welcome glass of wine and a full night’s sleep, ready for the busy day ahead. Most days followed the same pattern and we were collected at 8am to head out to our first appointments. The trips to China and the Far East are very important to Wynsors as this is how we develop our footwear ranges for the coming season so this trip October 2010 is to work on styles that our customers won’t see in store until Autumn 2011 so we have to predict what will be the next big trend in 12 months time. So it’s important to have a good knowledge of so called high end fashion and design as this is what drives future styles on the high street.
Trends we saw for next Autumn/Winter featured, at one end of the scale intricate detailing but at the other much bolder large fold down fur collars. Heavy looking platform soles were evident on everything from wedge sole court shoes to long leg boots. Military and work boots are again predicted to be big for next winter with flat soles as well as high heel cleated soles. Hiker style D ring laces were also heavily featured on ladies boots. So it looks like next winter is going to develop and reinterpret this season’s practical functional feel.
As this was my first visit to China I was keen to see the manufacturing process and on some of our appointments where time schedules allowed I was able to see how our shoes were made. This was fascinating seeing how different styles were made and the processes involved.
After a diet of margarita pizzas, the odd MacDonalds, and one Chinese noodle soup the whirlwind eight days of traveling thousands of miles round China had come to an end and it was time for home and back to life as I know it. Then in a few months time the team will be out there doing it all again to work on Spring / Summer 2012! Better get on with my trend research.
