Milan-based fashion school Istituto Secoli has opened a new branch in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, to help fill the need for more pattern-making talent in China's fashion industry.

"China is not lacking fashion designers, but patternmaking talent," said Sam Lau, director and vice-dean of the school, which is well known for training patternmakers as well as teaching designing, sewing and production management.

In China, patternmaking knowledge and experience has traditionally been passed down from generation to generation. In the past, patternmakers have had a relatively low level of education, making it inefficient for them to communicate with designers, Lau said.