(l-r) Professor Qian Chen, Frances Harder, Professor Wei Yuan Zhang, Henry Cherner and Tony Zhang

Fashion Business Inc.'s Frances Harder and AIMS Technology's Henry Cherner have returned from a week-long series of seminars in China. The trip was at the invitation of the Fashion Institute of Donghua University in Shanghai, and took place from December 9-16.
 

"The idea was to present to the university about the training the FBI has developed here in Los Angeles," says Harder. "One of the main reasons China was interested is that when they were under the real Communist regime, professionals were doing unskilled work. There was no real formal training. So they have this whole middle-aged group of people who missed out on training."

In addition to a large part of the population lacking the skills to keep up with China's growing manufacturing-industry needs, there is also, as in the U.S., a huge number of young people who want to be designers, Harder says. "But their technical patternmaking skills are very weak, and in order to improve product development they they need to strengthen these skills."

Cherner, president of AIMS, delivered a presentation on apparel-industry software, and Harder also presented on Full Package Production. In addition, Harder met with university representatives to discuss having her book "Fashion for Profit" translated into Chinese, and having Harder Publiations represented in China.

Harder says the trip was very informative for both the Chinese and for herself and Cherner. "We believe it will be the first step in future collaborations between the FBI and Donghua University," says Harder. "Perhaps we may partner with the university to help their instructors train industry professionals."

Regardless, it's opening a door to a relationship with China that could be productive for everybody.

"Our goal is to help the U.S. be more efficient dealing with China and other offshore manufacturers," concludes Harder. "The benefits will be to all of us in the long run."

Representatives from Donghua Unversity will visit the U.S. in February to see FBI seminars first hand, as well as attend the MAGIC International trade show in Las Vegas.

By Christian Chensvold