The fourth Vogue China Fashion Fund, an initiative dedicated to nurturing the participation of Chinese designers in the global fashion industry, was launched in Shanghai on Wednesday.

Since the first edition of the Chinese fund in 2023, Vogue China has sought to cultivate a roster of designers with enduring potential. This year, an "All-Star" mechanism has been introduced as part of the fund, designed to propel Chinese creative talent onto the global stage.

Founded in 2003 by Vogue US and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the Fashion Fund has built a reputation for providing critical financial support and commercial mentorship to emerging talent. Over the past two decades, luminaries such as Alexander Wang, Thom Browne and Proenza Schouler first rose to prominence through the platform. In China, alumni including Zhong Zixin, Louis Chen, Zhou Haojun, Xu Hao, Chen Yayi, and Johnny Yu have similarly matured into defining voices of avant-garde fashion.

This year's competition is scheduled to run between June and October, with the full roster of judges and "Fashion Muses" yet to be announced.

Rocco Liu, editorial director of VOGUE's China edition, has said it will provide in-depth coverage of competing designers' commercial creations, adding that it invites the public to witness the rise of China's next generation of design powerhouses.

Contact the writer at zhengyiran@chinadaily.com.cn