All that glitters really is gold

Gold is China's fashion metal of the moment, standing as a symbol of glamour, like elsewhere in the world.

Since the worldwide parade of the Italian Gold Expressions 2007 collection landed in Shanghai and Chengdu of Sichuan Province in April, the trend-setting collections designed and produced by 70 leading Italian gold jewelry manufacturers have fascinated Chinese jewelry designers, manufacturers and consumers alike.

With the approaching autumn season, the World Gold Council is again joining hands with Vicenza Fair and Hong Kong jewelry brands Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang and Luk Fook Jewellery to co-launch the new collections in Beijing.

"Customer response to the k-gold jewelry we launched in spring has positively encouraged us to bring more collections from Italy into the local market. Obviously, Chinese women have also caught on to the latest jewelry trends like women abroad. They know what they want. They are not shy to express themselves through fashion and jewelry," says Roland Wang, general manager of World Gold Council Greater China.

The umbrella theme "Super Attraction" brings together three main lines for the autumn/winter collections - "My Romantic Fantasy", "My Mysterious Allure" and "My Private Persona".

Romance has emerged as a major theme in jewelry design today and the "My Romantic Fantasy" collection gives full play to this with its playful, sweet and girlish designs.

Featuring common motifs such as the ocean, gardens, birds, dolphins, butterflies and wild berries, the designs are vivid, simple and suitable not just for young girls but also more mature women.

"My Mysterious Allure" caters to the needs of those special occasions, when a woman dresses out in her best. The designs show intricate craftsmanship, theatrical visuals in Gothic or Victorian styles and breathtaking fabric patterns.

The seductive pieces grouped under "My Private Persona" feature ethnic symbols, lucky colors and birth stones and the fluid patterns are designed to tug at the heartstrings.

(China Daily 09/15/2007 page16)