【Course Introduction】

The current market demands brands that possess both a distinct aesthetic and cultural identity as well as strong commercial value. This places high expectations on brand founders—they must not only understand, but also create a brand’s unique aesthetic and cultural voice, while also mastering comprehensive methodologies for brand operations. In other words, they need to integrate both emotional sensitivity and rational thinking into brand management.

However, individuals often lean toward one side. Creative entrepreneurs, such as designers, are typically more emotionally driven, whereas executives from manufacturing or retail sectors tend to rely on rational, analytical thinking. So the question is: Can these two types of thinkers truly take on the role of a brand founder?

That is precisely the goal of our training program: to help brand founders with different thinking styles systematically acquire and understand the skills they lack. Through this process, they can build a comprehensive mindset and methodology for brand and business operations—ultimately growing into exceptional brand leaders.

The Fashion Brand Founder Bootcamp is co-hosted by the Shanghai International Fashion Education Center (SIFEC), Shangxin Brand Management Co., Ltd., and SHOWROOM SHANGHAI. We are confident in our ability to offer every brand founder the support, knowledge, network, community, talent, capital, and resources they need. We are confident in becoming the think tank behind every founder’s first step.

【Target Students】

○ Returnees who studied abroad and are now starting their own business need to develop not only design skills but also merchandising capabilities that help drive profit.

○ Designers who previously worked for commercial brands and are now launching their own labels need to understand how to run the backend of a company.

○ Business owners from supply chain, design studios, or wholesale markets need in-depth knowledge of how to build a brand from the ground up.

○ Operators from traditional commercial brands need to learn how modern fashion brands differ in terms of operations.

○ Aspiring entrepreneurs still on the fence need to understand the path a brand will take in the future.

【Course Content】

Phase 1: Live Online Courses

This phase of live-streamed courses helps entrepreneurs understand the overall landscape of the industry, build a comprehensive mindset, and take a macro-to-micro approach—helping them identify the right direction and avoid unnecessary detours in their startup journey.

Phase 2: Offline Courses

This phase adopts a private boardroom-style learning model, led by brand incubation

experts. All course content is tailored to each participant’s real-life situation and data, ensuring both theoretical depth and strong practical relevance.

Note: Guidance will be provided for developing a business plan (BP). Industry experts and investors will be invited to serve as final presentation judges during a closed-door graduation defense.

【Faculty Team】

Hongkun Wu

Founder of Shanghai Shangxin Brand Management Co., Ltd.

Graduated with a master’s degree in Design and Art from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, where he also serves as a startup mentor. He is also an external advisor for postgraduate students at Donghua University. Former Managing Director of EICHI TOO, he led the then-emerging women's wear brand into the mainstream Chinese market. In 2016, he founded Shanghai Shangxin Brand Management Co., Ltd., embarking on incubating and intellectually investing in fashion startup brands.

He has helped nurture brands such as "Zhou Sheng" (cashmere), the retro brand "H&K WORKSHOP," and the new-generation women’s brand "HALF-MADE."

Jian Lin

Founder of SHOWROOM SHANGHAI

One of China’s first fashion critics and columnists. In 2014, he stopped writing and founded SHOWROOM SHANGHAI, pioneering the bridge between designer brands (domestic and international) and the Chinese market.

Meng Wang

Senior Executive at a Multinational Fashion Brand in Greater China

Holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Foreign Trade and a CMBA from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. With over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, she has held senior positions in national merchandising and brand operations for ADIDAS, ESPRIT, SYSLEY, GUESS, and others. She has deep expertise in retail operations, overall brand management processes, merchandising, procurement, and marketing.

Zheng Zheng

Apparel Brand Management Expert

Advisor to multiple well-known brands

Former Vice President of the publicly listed women’s wear company Ribo Fashion Group. He led the company from its early startup phase to its IPO, overseeing nearly 20 years of operational management. Currently a partner at Shangxin Fashion Consulting, he also serves as an advisor to several listed companies and well-known brands.

Xin Chen

Angel Investor

Enterprise Strategy and Management Expert

An executive of a publicly listed high-tech company and an experienced angel investor. He has led two companies from small and medium scale to successful financing, mergers, and IPOs, across industries including wine, fashion, advanced materials, and dentistry.

【Tuition Fees】

¥32,800

The program includes: 2 days of online courses | 12 days of offline courses | 1 industry visit to a leading enterprise | 1 startup project pitch & defense session

Special Bonus: One-on-one "Brand Strategy" brainstorming session with Shangxin Consulting

【Course Schedule】

2 Days of Online Courses + 12 Days of Offline Courses