MOC crossover project boosts global competitiveness of Taiwan fashion

2020/09/18

The Fashion Industry Crossover Project under the Ministry of Culture is encouraging Taiwan designers to embrace an innovation-by-partnership mindset, bolstering international competitiveness of the local fashion industry.
 
 Launched in 2018, FICP provides subsidies to help homegrown designers establish cooperative exchanges, participate in marketing events such as fashion shows and trade fairs, and develop brand recognition abroad.
 
 According to Annie Chen, director of the Department of Cultural and Creative Development under the MOC, local fashion brands have a tough time competing internationally because they largely operate on a small scale with limited production capacity. The project is targeted at creating a supportive ecosystem allowing them to thrive and go global, she said.

The initiative additionally aims to foster supply chain integration by encouraging designers to work more closely with textile producers upstream and accessories manufacturers downstream while creating a fusion of art, culture and technology, Chen said.
 
 Such collaborative approach is referred to as “crossover,” a strategic partnership between enterprises that combines talent and resources from different industries to mutual benefit.
 
“Crossovers allow fashion designers to uncover inexhaustible sources of inspiration. It’s the idea that one plus one is greater than two,” Chen said. “Consumers enjoy the novelty of items combining the essence of two brands, which explains why crossover products are so appealing.”

FICP also provides funding for designers to showcase their work at high-profile events such as Taipei Fashion Week, which the MOC initiated in 2018 in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taipei City Government.
 
 Among FICP beneficiaries is Justin Chou, a prominent Taiwan designer known for melding Eastern and Western influences into his at-times discordant aesthetics. Believing fashion shows provide great opportunities to promote new clothing lines to potential buyers from around the world, he utilized subsidies to participate in TFW and New York Fashion Week.
 
“I’m grateful for government support, especially since the positive feedback I get from audiences drives me to acquire new skills and push boundaries,” Chou said.

By promoting crossovers and providing funding to innovators, the MOC has unleashed a previously untapped power in Taiwan’s fashion industry, playing a critical role in bolstering its development.
 
“We expect fashion designers to capitalize on the country’s advanced textiles, dynamic business landscape and rich cultural tapestry to enhance their clothing lines,” Chen said. “It’s our belief that collaboration can take the country’s fashion to the next level and create more crossover success stories.”

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)