Models present Le Fame's new collection that was launched online during the 2020 autumn/winter Shanghai Fashion Week on March 26.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"This fashion week has provided a more direct communication platform between designers and consumers," says Liu Xinxia from LABELHOOD, a platform aimed at connecting the young generation of China with the world through fashion culture.

But having such a direct communication platform will also bring about new challenges. For instance, Lyu says that consumers can directly ask vendors questions through an online medium and it would be the onus of the latter to deal with such queries promptly and professionally.

Lyu adds businesses must also devise ways to retain the interest of their viewers as there are many alternative livestream channels they can choose from.

Among those who praised the initiative to bring the fashion week online was Imran Amed, founder of media company Business of Fashion.

"The impact of the epidemic is not limited to certain countries, but it has inevitably disturbed the world," he says.