How to Exhibit at a Fashion Trade Show in China — The Main Shows and Routes for Korean Brands

Three major fashion trade shows in China

As confirmed on November 10, 2026. All three are held in Shanghai twice a year.

• MODE Shanghai — the official trade show of Shanghai Fashion Week. In 2026 it was held March 25–29 and October 8–12 at Jing Yao Hongqiao in Changning District. From Korea, CBSR has operated showrooms at this show for three consecutive seasons since October 2025.
• ONTIMESHOW — a trade show launched in 2014 that is on the official Shanghai Fashion Week schedule. In 2026 it ran on the same dates as MODE Shanghai, at West Bund Art Center. CBSR is accepting applications from Korean designer brands for the 2027 F/W season.
• CHIC (China International Fashion Fair) — a large-scale apparel fair held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. For the spring 2026 edition (March 11–13), the organizers announced 1,091 exhibitors and 1,135 brands from eight countries and regions, Korea among them (as reported by FashionUnited).

How a designer trade show differs from a large-scale fair

MODE Shanghai and ONTIMESHOW are where buyers from select shops and department stores view and order next season’s collections during fashion week, and the exhibitors are mainly designer brands and showrooms. A designer brand that releases a collection each season looks at these shows first.

CHIC is a general fair divided into halls by category, such as womenswear, menswear, outerwear, outdoor, denim and kidswear. Buyers expected at the spring 2026 edition were reported to include JD.com, Douyin, Shein and Beijing SKP. It is the fair considered by brands that want to meet retail platforms and large retailers.

The shows where CBSR has operated showrooms are the former: the trade shows of Shanghai Fashion Week.

When the shows run, and when to start preparing

In 2026, CHIC was held March 11–13 and August 25–27, and MODE Shanghai and ONTIMESHOW were held March 25–29 and October 8–12. The Shanghai Fashion Week trade shows present that year’s fall/winter (F/W) collections in spring and the following year’s spring/summer (S/S) collections in autumn.

The next season, 2027 F/W, is expected in late March 2027, but the organizers have not yet announced official dates. Preparation starts about two months before a show, so a brand aiming at the spring 2027 shows needs its format settled by January 2027 at the latest; application and consultation come before that.

Three routes for Korean brands

The routes are similar whichever show you choose.

• Apply directly to the organizer — the brand passes the organizer’s screening and exhibits at a booth under its own name. Application, booth construction, interpreting and buyer meetings are all handled by the brand itself.
• Go through a collective showroom operator (such as CBSR) — the operator brings several brands together as one showroom. The operator handles the application, coordination with the organizer, the booth and on-site operation, which lightens the load of a first show in China. CBSR’s Busan Showroom and Busan Collective work this way.
• Take part through an institution’s support program — a local government or fashion institution selects brands and exhibits with them. Calls for applications come at different times for each institution. CBSR has worked this way with institutions such as the Busan Textile & Fashion Industry Association and Daegu Fashion Lab.

What to prepare specifically for a show in China

The basics (samples, a lookbook, a wholesale price list and order terms) are the same as for any overseas show, with a few additions for China.

• Materials in Chinese — prepare the brand introduction and price list in Chinese or English, and have an interpreter on site.
• WeChat — follow-up with Chinese buyers after the show mostly continues on WeChat. CBSR’s Brand ERP sends the buyer a WeChat notification and a PDF order sheet as soon as an order is placed.
• Trademark — China grants trademark rights on a first-to-file basis. Check whether your brand’s trademark has been filed in China before you exhibit.

What the cost of exhibiting is made up of

Amounts depend on the show, the form of participation and the booth size, so they are not listed here. A budget based on the booth fee alone tends to fall short, so it helps to get quotes item by item.

In a collective showroom the booth and on-site operation are often bundled into the operator’s fee, but what is included differs by operator. CBSR explains the scope and cost to each brand in the consultation after application.

• Participation (booth) fee — paid to the organizer or to the collective showroom operator. Check first whether booth construction, fixtures and on-site staff are included.
• Booth construction and fixtures — when applying directly to the organizer, racks, lighting and signage are built or rented at extra cost.
• Sample shipping and customs — freight to the venue and back, plus customs clearance.
• Travel — flights, accommodation, local transport and meals. Count the set-up and tear-down days as well as the show days.
• Interpreters and on-site staff — an interpreter for meetings in Chinese, or staff to receive buyers.
• Materials — translating and printing the lookbook, the Chinese or English price list and the brand introduction.

CBSR’s record at fashion trade shows in China

CBSR (CEO Ahn Cheol-seong) has operated showrooms at the Shanghai Fashion Week trade shows for three consecutive seasons since October 2025.

• October 2025 — MODE Shanghai 2026 S/S, Busan Showroom. Eight Busan designer brands recorded more than KRW 300 million (about RMB 1.55 million) in buyer consultations at their first show in China.
• March 2026 — MODE Shanghai AW2026, Busan Collective Showroom (booth F3-06), four brands.
• October 2026 — MODE Shanghai 2027SS, two showrooms (Busan Collective and Daegu Fashion Lab), eleven brands.
• Late March 2027 (expected) — for the 2027 F/W season, CBSR is accepting applications from Korean designer brands that want to exhibit together at ONTIMESHOW.

Frequently asked questions

Related articles on CBSR channels

• MediumHow Korean Designer Brands Get Into Fashion Trade Shows in China: Three Shows and Three Routes Compared