With a sumptuous parade of collections by several of China's top designers, the 10th Shanghai International Fashion Festival kicked off Thursday night near Taiping Lake in Xintiandi. It will run through March 27. 

French designer Daniel Tribouillard, the founder of Leonard fashion house, also displayed his works featuring unique print designs at the ceremony as a tribute to the 10th anniversary of the city's fashion festival. Tribouillard is also a pioneer who brought a clothing exhibition from the Louvre Museum in Paris to Shanghai in 1993.

The 10-day event features fashion shows and forums, trade expos and international model competition featuring 16 domestic models and 31 overseas beauties.

French designer Dominique Sirop and Italian designer Renato Balestra will show their latest collections next week in Shanghai Mart.

Sirop, 47, spent two decades working as an assistant to Yves Saint Laurent and Hubert de Givenchy. His gowns are favored by celebrities.

Donghua University, which is renowned for its fashion programs, will play an important role in organizing the event.

Donghua Fashion Week will run from March 19 to 25 as part of the festival.

(Shanghai Daily March 19, 2004)