A bazaar of ideas

A menswear design contest is held as part of the China-UK Art & Aesthetics Forum. Designers from both countries showed their creations in a gala after the forum in the Forbidden City in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Their work "combined traditional Chinese elements into modern cutting and styles", says Dunhill.

In recent years, Central Saint Martins has admitted more Asian students, especially from China.

Dunhill says they bring an "approach to contemporary culture that is maybe newer and fresher", adding that they are very brave－and very competitive－to leap from their own country to a city like London.

"Some Chinese students are very quick to see the possibilities and potential."

Language is still a problem, for example, writing, but the main difference is that Asian students have to change their attitude toward studying.

Asian students hold professors in high esteem, he says.

"You have to do what they tell you, whereas in the UK it is not that the professors and teachers are not the authority, they just don't behave in the same way," he says.