HISTORY

1996
Dessous China is founded by China National Textile Council and IGEDO COMPANY to open up the Chinese market for overseas lingerie manufacturers. The first Dessous China is held in Shanghai at the Shanghai Centre (then Portman Shangri-La Hotel, today Ritz Carlton Hotel) amid tight security and stages China’s first ever lingerie fashion show, directed by Gregg & Bailey from Hong Kong. The lingerie topic is still a sensitive one, which is also the reason for Dessous China abstaining from promoting itself with the help of a lingerie motif, but rather choosing the phoenix as its logo, a symbol of female beauty.

1997
Dessous China already established itself as an important lingerie event and a cooperation forum for business in China. A 50% exhibitor increase makes Dessous China move to a bigger fairground.

1998
Dessous China at the height of its success. After only three events, Dessous China has developed into a fair of international significance. The catalogue of the third edition reads like the "who is who" of lingerie. A novelty is to be witnessed at the fairground: the first ever lingerie stand models in China. Visitor interest for the fashion shows proved to be stronger than the partition walls of the Fashion Forum, which were run down by the curious crowd.

1999
The Asia crisis finally hits Dessous China. Exhibitor figures start to decrease, trade visitors from Korea and Indonesia are looked for in vain. Still, the Chinese lingerie market has developed together with the fair, and total visitor figures remain stable. Exhibitors, many of them exhibiting for the third or even fourth time, start to get established, open representative offices, find agents, start to sell or even produce in China.

2000
The Asia crisis manifests its influence especially with lingerie manufacturers, whose number is decreasing, while the suppliers face less problems. Dessous China reacts by supporting its future, young lingerie designers. Six young designers from five European countries show avantgarde underwear, beachwear and homewear at Dessous China’s first Designer Pavilion.

2001
Asian suppliers catching up on the medium to high quality market. The Dessous China suppliers’ section, which had always been dominated by European companies, for the first time showed a bigger number of Asian companies in addition. Introduction of the Asia Lingerie Summit, The First Conference in Asia on Lingerie and Supplies.

2002
Dessous China expands into Beijing, offering an additional business platform in China’s North in addition to its traditional location, Shanghai. The fair is finally recovering from the Asia crisis with exhibitors from Indonesia, Japan and Korea being back and China’s WTO access giving further impetus.
The second Asia Lingerie Summit proves to be a complete success with more than 250 attendees listening to a range of expert information including lingerie trends, Chinese lingerie market introduction, Smart Textiles, the U.S. Lingerie Market etc.

2003
Dessous China sees a 30% exhibitor and a 15% visitor increase. The fair introduces consumer press work and additional on-site facilities such as VIP-lounge and Business Meeting Area. Following the success of the first mini-forum in 2002, a 100 sq.m. trend forum is realised for the first time.