Annual Garment and Textile fair opened up on Sept 19 in China's port city of Dalian, a fashion powerhouse with growing international clout drew in global brands, but local suppliers are winning fans for their interplay of Chinese elements with advanced technology.

In addition, buyers from South Korea and Japan, along with those from China's Special Administration Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, also attended the fair.

Two other Dalian brands turning heads at the fair are the garments of Kaimen aiming at kids and teenagers, to create an image of confidence, creativity, color, life, and love.

While, Yousoku Menswear is featuring semi-casual office suits. The brand targeted at young Chinese who want to set fashion trends among their peers.

The event has taken on international scale, with European brands Sally New York and Colb showing their latest collections on the catwalk. In all, 450 brands are sold at booths at the fair.

The dresses on display at the fair are quintessentially Chinese with body-hugging silhouettes and high collars, but the motifs are made with high-tech printing instead of embroidery.

Wang Zhijian, manager and designer, Archaic, Purple said that the scenes are portrayed in the style of ink-and-brush painting, and they have used digital-printing technology to print them on the clothes. The dresses are like moving scenes when women wear them on the street. The prints on the clothes pass on the feeling of Zen philosophy, peace, and harmony favored by us Chinese.

According to Li Mingfang, editor-in-chief, China Fashion, the designs have won a lot of praise from industry insiders. Their clothes symbolize a strong return of Chinese elements, oriental fashion, on the world stage.

Liu Yan, deputy mayor of Dalian, said that CIGTF is cooperating with internet platforms such as Alibaba.com, Tencent, and arkofchina.com to explore new ways to promote the garment and textile industry.

CIGTF is sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce, China National Textile and Apparel Council, and Dalian municipal government.

According to Li Yunsheng, deputy director of the Dalian Commission of Economy and Information, the exhibition area covered 5 square meters with 1,500 stands.

The fair held in the coastal city of Dalian, in China's northeast province of Liaoning ends today.