CHINA: Models sporting dresses and decorations made out of chocolate pose for the 'sweetest' fashion show

Record ID: 197667

  • Title: CHINA: Models sporting dresses and decorations made out of chocolate pose for the 'sweetest' fashion show
  • Date: 29th January 2010
  • Summary: EXTERIOR OF THE 'WORLD CHOCOLATE WONDERLAND' ENTRANCE
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Fashion
  • Reuters ID: LVA5883KRGXANJH5AU8X0KCV8ZRF
  • Story Text: As expensive Haute Couture creations are currently paraded in Paris, clothes that looked - and smelled - good enough to eat hit the catwalk in Beijing in a chocolate fashion show.
    Chinese models posed in chocolate hats, candy earrings, chocolate shawls and even chocolate armour on Thursday (January 28) at the opening ceremony of the World Chocolate Wonderland, an exhibition which celebrates all things chocolate.
    Four fashion designers worked with chocolate specialists to create the cocoa-couture, resulting in modern and traditionally-inspired designs and even a chocolate wig.
    Chen Yuan, one of the show's models, said the weight of the dresses made walking tricky but she enjoyed the smell.
    "Usually dresses in fashion shows are both beautiful and light but those dresses do not have the sweet smell of chocolate. Chocolate dresses attract women because of their sweetness," Chen said.
    Ling Zhenzhong, head co-ordinator of the chocolate park, said designers had even worked to make their dresses environmentally friendly.
    "I think what we need to stress is that not only did we use many kinds of chocolates in designing the outfits, we also recycled a lot of materials. We used the wrapping paper and packing boxes from the candy and chocolate products. We hoped to show that this fashion show is also eco-friendly," said Ling.
    Up to 80 tons of chocolate, much of it sourced from Switzerland, was used in the creation of the chocolate park, organisers said.
    The park also features an army of chocolate terracotta warriors and a chocolate BMW.
    The organisers hope the lavish display will tickle the tastebuds of potentially millions of visitors and boost chocolate sales in China's massive consumer market.
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