When Shenzhen was designated a special economic zone in 1980, the idea that the small port town in south China would one day become a megacity seemed a long way off. In the 45 years of China’s reform and opening up, countless people have flocked to this city of opportunity to start their own businesses, making fortunes for themselves and also making the city ever more prosperous.
Over 30 years ago, a number of export clothing factories took root in Nanyou, in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, due to its proximity to Hong Kong and the Shekou Industrial Zone, China’s first export-oriented economic development zone, located in the same district. Today, Nanyou has become fertile ground for independent fashion designers to create their own
