As one of the key industry platforms in Asia, Design Shanghai is de rigueur for anyone who works on fusing form and function on and for the asian market or is passionate about design. Once again, in 2021, Audi was the main sponsor. Cooperating with the trade show made perfect sense for a brand that was, and still is, defined by design. What’s more, China is one of the Four Rings’ key markets.” The theme of this year's trade fair - Regenerative design comes to China – and the world – is an excellent fit for Audi’’, explains Henrik Wenders, Head of Brand AUDI AG.” Audi is known for its outstanding design, and is also passionately committed to sustainability.

At the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, the carmaker was displaying how it has fused these two ideals to stunning effect in the shape of the Audi e-tron GT quattro. And that’s not all. At its booth as well as in a walk-through installation at the entrance to the exhibition grounds, Audi was stepping out in Shanghai together with Stella McCartney. The fashion designer had already played an active role in the launch of the Audi e-tron GT. Both the designer and Audi use innovative materials in their products. In keeping with the event’s theme of regenerative design which, in essence, advocates design with a sustainable impact, the pair aimed to demonstrate at Design Shanghai how the fashion and automotive industry are striving for greater sustainability.

In Shanghai, Stella McCartney was presenting two items from the Falabella Go collection, which were created using ECONYL. This material comprises 100-percent regenerated nylon fibers from production waste, fabric and carpet scraps as well as old fishing nets. Audi also uses the recycled yarn in carpets and floor mats of the Gran Turismo. In the walk-through installation in front of the trade show, visitors could experience the parallels between Stella McCartney and Audi in their use of the material,.

More sustainability is no longer a niche pursuit in China. Two experts – Yunzhou Wu, Coordinator Interior Design Audi China, and Yu (Scott) Zhao, Head of Innovation Research Audi – whose presentations at the showcase addressed sustainability as a global trend that is increasingly gaining traction in China, drove this point home. They demonstrated how the carmaker’s automotive design reflects sustainability through vehicle shapes and materials as well as the design process itself. In short, the topic permeates all facets of Audi – the participation in Design Shanghai alone was testimony to that.