Sunway Fashion Design students’ sourcing venture in one of the world’s biggest clothing manufacturing city—Guangzhou.

Made in China: words that are printed on the labels of the majority of clothes sold in stores globally. To most, it may seem like a simple indication of origin, a commonplace mark on the tags of our shirts, dresses, and jeans. But for those in the fashion industry, these words signify the heart of a bustling, dynamic industry. They evoke images of vast factories, vibrant textile markets, and the intricate craftsmanship that underpins one of the world's largest manufacturing hubs.

For their Final Year Project, our Head of Department, Mr. Roger Mah, has arranged a sourcing trip to Guangzhou, China—the epicentre of global apparel production—for the senior fashion students. In Guangzhou, the reality behind those ubiquitous labels unfolds, revealing the complex processes, cultural intersections, and relentless innovation that drive the fashion industry. Mah believes it is crucial for students to be exposed to the real workings of the industry as early as possible.

On their first day in Guangzhou, nine Sunway FDTS students headed to the ZhongDa Fabric Market, where they would spend most of their trip. The endless maze of fabric shops stretches across six floors, offering an abundance of fabric and accessory varieties. The bustling energy of merchants and buyers created an unforgettable first experience for the students. Specialized fabrics and trimmings that are hard to find in Malaysia were abundant in this single building. Gradient paillettes, decorative elastics, innovative knits, specialized garment hardware, vegan fur, and leather—whatever you can imagine, it was there. For the first few days, the students explored their options, visiting numerous fabric shops and collecting fabric swatches and hardware samples for their FYP (Final Year Project) Collection.

Moving forward, each student had the opportunity for a one-on-one consultation with Mah, discussing their fabric and colour choices, design elements, and any necessary adjustments. This consultation was crucial for providing the professional guidance needed to ensure their collections were well-thought-out and prepared for production later.

With Mah's approval of their fabric and accessory selections, the students began placing orders with the merchants, knowing it could take 2-5 working days for the fabrics to be ready for delivery. While waiting for their orders to arrive, the students had some time to explore Guangzhou, visiting hotspots like Parc Central Mall, Tianhe Festival Walk, Beijing Road, and Dongshankou, experiencing the city's vibrant culture and doing a bit of sightseeing and shopping.

As the trip drew to a close, the students successfully gathered the fabrics they needed, preparing to return to Malaysia with their treasures in tow. With the semester break still ahead of them, they have a brief respite before diving back into the grind of crafting their Final Year Project Collection. This collection, the culmination of their years of study and creativity, will be showcased sometime soon in an eagerly anticipated fashion runway show. The experiences and insights gained in Guangzhou have not only provided them with essential materials but also a deeper understanding of the global fashion industry, fuelling their passion and creativity as they bring their design visions to life.

Written by Sky Lau, Studio Coordinator of Sunway College Fashion Hub