Models Model from China

An economic impact report on the 2004 event found that it generated 33 million New Zealand dollars, or $21.6 million, for the New Zealand economy in terms of total output, an estimated 30 million dollars for Auckland, and millions more in incremental foreign exchange earnings for designers.

"Our ability to compete in a global creative economy is critical to New Zealand's future economic growth and fashion is an important component within that context," said Mapihi Opai, chief executive of the nonprofit Fashion Industry New Zealand.

But in addition to giving the economy a lift, playing host to a fashion week sends the signal that culturally a country has arrived.

"A refreshing sense of national identity and pride has emerged from the achievements of our creative sectors - something that has otherwise traditionally been restricted to feats of sporting prowess," said Opai, adding that its benefits go well beyond the fashion world.

Iceland has made a name for itself in the fashion world by holding fashion weeks since 2000, set in unusual open- air locations like the tops of glaciers.

With Iceland's endless summer sunlight, catwalks have been known to take place at the annual July event at all hours - even at 1 a.m.

Other countries, too, are increasing their attention to holding fashion events that are off the beaten path.

"Japan said recently that it will do more with fashion shows, and there's bound to be more in China," said Kim Winser, president and chief executive of Aquascutum, a British label. "There are a lot of people connected to the fashion industry in these places who could never have the opportunity of getting to the big four, so it's fabulous to have something more localized."

Fashion experts say they are thrilled by the spread of fashion weeks and that they do not detract from the majorshows in Paris, London, Milan and New York.

"In places like India and China, there are enormous markets that have been really rather untapped when it comes to fashion," said Tim Gunn, chairman of the fashion design department at Parsons the New School for Design in New York.

In India, for example, some 60 designers sent their lines down the catwalks at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi in early September. The five-day biannual event attracted about 160 buyers, including 70 international ones.

India's fashion business, estimated at $50 million, is diminutive when compared with the rest of the world. But it's expanding by about 11 percent a year.

With a boom in the retail market and an economy growing at about 8 percent, Indian designers have started pushing ready-to-wear clothing after years of designing mostly lavish bridal wear.

"The industry is important to our economy as it creates wealth, employment generation, and earnings for different service providers, while also preserving the traditional crafts skills that add value to garments and give us as a comparative advantage," said Ruchi Sharma, manager of events at the Fashion Design Council of India.