To tap further into the vast potential of the luxury markets in mainland China, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) delegates made a visit to Shanghai in October 2014 during which a number of MOUs were renewed with the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) to strengthen mutual cooperation in several areas.
Under the MOUs, AWDC and SDE agree to have more intense cooperation, to promote each other as a centre for diamond trade, to put forward the high quality of Belgian diamonds and the ‘cut in Antwerp’ quality label, and to actively promote the ‘Antwerp’s most brilliant’ label to Chinese who travel to Europe.
On 14 October AWDC co-organised the ‘Antwerp Diamond Night’ together with bvba 32, the financial force behind fashion designers Ann Demeulemeester, Haider Ackermann and Jean-Paul Lespagnard, to celebrate the 30 years of friendship between Antwerp and Shanghai.
The evening highlighted the prominent position of Antwerp diamonds and designer wear, the two major export commodities of the city. Diamond jewellery and outfits by the three world-famed designers were modelled on runway.
“China is the fastest growing market for diamonds,” said AWDC spokesperson Margaux Donckier. “The American market has been on top for years, but is now rapidly being overtaken by China. The diamond market in China has a value of approximately US$22.8 billion, a threefold increase compared to five years ago,” she added.
“For years now, China’s market for luxury goods has been growing tremendously. Next to the classic luxury brands, designer fashion is increasingly finding its way to China,” said Anne Chapelle, CEO of bvba 32. “In recent years, we have witnessed a remarkable growth of our brands. In cooperation with our local retail partner, we have been able to open up a number of flagship stores and shop-in-shops as well.”
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