Fashion agenda: Shanghai Fashion Week, Design Museum Awards

France's Agnès b. and Britain's PPQ are just some of the labels set to showcase their Fall/Winter 2012 collections at the upcoming Shanghai Fashion Week, which will also welcome back regular homegrown talent including Helen Lee. Meanwhile, design talent of the future will be discovered at the Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival later on in the month, where Chloé will introduce a new award, the Chloé Prize, to a designer who best captures the philosophy of the French fashion house. Read about this and other important upcoming fashion events here.

Shanghai Fashion Week
April 11-17
Shanghai, China

Following on the heels of the recent Beijing Fashion Week, China’s fashion elite and a host of international designers will be descending on Shanghai for the Fall/Winter 2012 presentations. Big names including France's Agnès b. and Britain's PPQ are on the line up, as are Shanghai’s rising design talents such as Helen Lee, who has been recognized via awards such as China's Jeanswest Fashion Award and Belgium's Les Etoiles De La Mode.
http://www.shanghaifashionweek.com/sfw/

New York International Bridal Week
April 14-16
New York, NY, USA

Taking place a month before Europe's prestigious Barcelona Bridal Week, the New York International Bridal Week is a trade event welcoming leading wedding dress designers  from the US and Europe, attracting the likes of Anne Barge, Claire Pettibone, Casablanca, David Fielden and Eve of Milady to showcase their latest creations.
http://www.newyorkbridal.com/

Design Museum Awards
April 24
London, UK

This prestigious ceremony organized by London's Design Museum looks at creations across a host of categories including architecture, furniture and fashion, with the winner from each section and an overall winner announced at an awards ceremony April 24. Fashion nominees include London-based designer Mary Katrantzou's and French label Céline's Autumn 2011 collections and Sarah Burton's wedding gown for Catherine Middleton. Contenders will be on show at the Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum, which is running until July 15.
http://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2012/designs-of-the-year-2012


Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival
April 27-30
Hyères, France

The 27th edition of this parallel fashion and photography event will begin April 27, with one of the most anticipated elements being the annual competitions, which have in the past recognized design talent such as Viktor & Rolf. An additional prize for this year will be the inaugural Chloé prize, with ten designers creating an outfit inspired by the French fashion house’s philosophy and the winner receiving €10 000 and the chance for Chloé to manufacture  their winning design.
http://www.villanoailles-hyeres.com/fr/actualites


Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia
April 30-May 4
Sydney, Australia

Formerly known as Rosemount Australia Fashion Week, this upcoming Spring/Summer 2012 edition welcomes new sponsor Mercedes-Benz. Big Australian names such as Lisa Ho and swimwear and clothing designer Zimmermann are on the lineup, while street style photographer Tommy Ton is just one of the big name bloggers to be attending along with Susie Bubble of Style Bubble, who will present a series of talks discussing the evolving contemporary face of fashion.
http://australia.mbfashionweek.com/