New style cities: London, Paris and Milan are now facing some serious competition

GLASGOW

The city's motto is "Let Glasgow flourish!", and that's exactly what its fashion scene is doing. Eight young designers born, trained or based in the city took part in London Fashion Week as part of the " Scotland with Style Design Collective". Riding the crest of the wave of Glaswegian talent is 24-year-old

Christopher Kane, whose bold, body conscious designs catapulted him to global attention last year.

BEIRUT

Long known as the Paris of the East, Beirut is probably the most cosmopolitan of the Arab capitals. And despite last year's bloody war with Israel, the city seems to have bounced back. Elie Saab the couturier responsible for dressing a host of Hollywood actresses, continued to work out of his atelier whilst bombs fell. Meanwhile, Comme des Garcons have just opened a "guerrilla" store in the city – a mark of their faith in the city's continuing cool.

SAO PAULO

Sao Paulo's Fashion Week offers cool, conceptual style and reflects the cultural melting pot of the city

itself. Talented local designer Alexandre Herchcovitch may have headed north to whip up a storm with his designs in New York, but the city continues to be home to Brazil's most innovative designers including the Huis Clos label, known as South America's answer to Jil Sander.

MADRID

Spanish labels such as Mango and Zara have already conquered our high streets, but high-end fashion has been slower to establish itself. But today there's a real buzz about thecapital's fashion scene, as London designer Stuart Vevers, the creative brains behind British label Mulberry, will be arriving after Christmas to head up the Spanish luxury goods label Loewe (bag pictured). Expect this to be the birthplace of It-bags for seasons to come.

BEIJING

Fashion is booming in China. Luxury foreign labels are keen to cash in on Beijing's enormous purchasing power – but the domestic scene is on the move too. Beijing Fashion Week (pictured above) celebrates its first decade this year and the government is making concerted efforts to shift focus away from unskilled manufacturing and on to new design.

ISTANBUL

Awarded "Best City" by design magazine 'Wallpaper', trendspotters have long had their eyes on Istanbul. A wave of young talent is producing clothes that match the beauty and modernity of the changing urban environment. Banu Bora (pictured) and Umit Unal are the city's best kept secrets, although probably not for much longer.

MOSCOW

Russian fashionistas still love their fur, but with several new branches of Topshop, the Russian capital is adopting a more relaxed approach to personal style. And don't forget, joining Natalia Vodianova (pictured) and the army of Russian supermodels dominating the catwalks, is Mikhail Gorbachev, the unexpected star of a Louis Vuitton campaign.

MUMBAI

India is back on the fashion radar. Not only has 'Vogue' just launched an India edition, but the V&A has recently showcased work by Indian designer Manish Arora (pictured above). Mumbai Fashion Week is known as colourful and experimental, and according to industry analysts, it won't be long before fashion conglomerates – and, later, consumers everywhere – are pouncing on young Indian labels.