From imitators to fashion innovators

HANGZHOU - For Chinese fashionistas, a new party dress can be a huge purchase, but the internet is making it easier to dress sharp without a big price tag or long-term commitment.

Dora's Dream, a women's clothing startup, runs a subscription-based service that allows style-conscious Chinese to borrow designer clothes with just a small monthly payment.

The clothes-sharing service generated buzz last month at the 2017 Asia Fashion Federation China Conference held in Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province, where fashion designers from Asia gathered to discuss the latest industry trends.