The 2025 Spring/Summer Beijing Fashion Week concluded on Tuesday, embracing new consumer trends and creating innovative consumer experiences through various activities. This year's edition, running from Sept. 12 to Sept. 17, featured 74 online and offline events, drawing 297 brands. More than 30 percent of the brands were led by well-established designers and major names in the industry. A key highlight was the "China-Chic Creative Show", which focused on promoting homegrown brands. In addition, the event introduced a digital fashion segment, demonstrating the growing influence of digital technology within the fashion world. The fashion week also featured a forum on China's fashion economy under the theme "AI-driven innovation leads the future". The forum brought together industry leaders, scholars, prominent entrepreneurs, and fashion pioneers to explore how artificial intelligence, driven by new quality productive forces, is unlocking new opportunities for Chinese fashion brands and companies, helping them navigate future development trends. "This year, we introduced a program to support young designers. We aim to foster emerging talent through initiatives that cover everything from lreleases, showcasing, promotion and monetization," said Gu Weida, chairman of the presidium of organizing committee of the Beijing Fashion Week. The event also made its its efforts to turn the rich cultural resources of Yushu Zang Autonomous Prefecture, a city in northwest China's Qinghai Province, into commercial success. Designers and brands from both Beijing and Yushu, inspired by Yushu's cultural assets, collaborated to create collections, which were showcased on the Beijing Fashion Week. "Thanks to two years of continuous collaboration and innovation, the event has significantly elevated Yushu's popularity, helping local apparel companies with high-quality development and boosting the region's culture and tourism industry," said Zhao Liping, deputy head of Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Yushu. The Beijing Fashion Week, launched in 2016, leverages the city's rich historical and cultural heritage along with its international fashion industry resources to promote original design concepts from Chinese brands.
Beijing Fashion Week wraps up, highlighting China-chic, AI-driven innovation
Residents in the Iranian capital Tehran have been forced to abandon their homes due to the continuing aerial bombardment from U.S. and Israeli attacks, with many worried about the damaging impact a prolonged war could have on their families.
The U.S. and Israeli began striking Iran on Saturday, with the attacks killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, and claiming the lives of more than 1,200 Iranians as of Thursday.
Iran has retaliated with a series of counterattacks against U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East region, as concerns now mount about the conflict widening.
Amid the intensifying attacks, residents of Tehran felt they were left with no choice but to get out of the capital as missiles continued to rain down.
Among them was a local woman named Nahid, who, after reaching a safer location, shared her experience of fleeing the city, describing the fear and urgency that drove her decision.
"We left Tehran because of the war. We heard that Israel had attacked, and there were loud sounds and heavy bombardments. We left the city because we have children, and we were afraid they might get hurt or become terrified," she said.
Despite the current crisis, Nahid also spoke of a sense of resilience which remains among the people.
"There was absolutely no shortage of food. The shops and chain stores were all open and fully stocked. There was no shortage of food supplies. But we say that now we must stand firm and respond to Israel and foreign countries, so that it won’t be the case that whenever they wish, they can attack our homeland. We must show greater endurance and patience for the sake of our country," she said.
Another resident, Ensie, also recalled the sense of horror as missiles struck near her home.
"It was one of the most terrifying memories of my life. Because of the intense anxiety, I just kept running and trying to escape. I was coughing and my heart was racing. I didn't know what had happened. I just couldn't stop running," she said.
Ensie also spoke of the far-reaching impacts of the war, highlighting its toll on both the economy and people's mental health.
"War is terrible in every way. Financially, in terms of economic losses, and psychologically, especially because of its effects on adults and children. These are impacts whose consequences might only appear years later. No one likes war," she said.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said on Thursday that 105 civilian sites and facilities in the country had been attacked by the U.S. and Israel since the outbreak of the conflict.
The IRCS also noted 1,332 attacks had been recorded at 636 locations across Iran since Saturday, with damage reported at 14 medical and pharmaceutical institutions.
Iranian families forced to evacuate Tehran as US-Israeli strikes continue
