A model wears designer Liu Jing's collection Without You, which won the first prize at the contest. [Photo/China Daily]

As China's clothing companies strive to build their own brands, there is no better way than to work with emerging indigenous designers.

The 11th China Fashion Design Contest was held in Weihai, Shandong province, last month. The contest is a joint effort by the China Fashion Association and major clothing company, the Dishang Group.

Designer Liu Jing won the first prize for her collection Without You, which features sharp suits and romantic chiffon dresses. She bagged 100,000 yuan ($14,700) as prize money.

The winners were selected from a pool of 127 contestants who have already won major regional or national contests. They submitted entries related to the 2018 spring/summer season. The results were decided by a jury comprising well-known designers and industry experts.

The event is part of Dishang's effort to transform itself from a manufacturing giant to a brand nurturer.