Hong Kong’s launchpad event for fashion brands, CentreStage, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, featured 200 brands from 20 countries and regions, and attracted about 8300 buyers from 71 countries.
Nearly 40 per cent of the buyers at the inaugural four-day fair came from Asia, outside Hong Kong. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the show included networking events and trend seminars.
The annual Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers Contest came under the CentreStage umbrella this year, with Derek Chan, who won the event four years ago, as guest designer. He presented his collection that features feminine elements such as lace in menswear. Launching his Demo brand in 2013, Chan believes his experience in the designers’ contest has helped him to develop his career.
“The Trade Development Council gives us a lot of support, for example, on the business side, and also organises trade and fashion shows which help us to gain more exposure.”
He says CentreStage looked “more like a fashion week and more international” and thinks it will help local designers and brands develop.
“I really appreciate that they invited overseas buyers to come to Hong Kong, which is quite important for us,” says Hong Kong fashion designer Aries Sin. “When a trade show has no target market or no target buyers, it is meaningless.”
For its Fashion Mirage show, CentreStage invited 50 Hong Kong designers to merge local cultural elements with fashion. Project director Simon Choi says the word “mirage” was used to bring out the essence of Hong Kong lifestyle with five themes – Cosmopolis, Floated Colours, Harbour View, Neon Sign and Zen.
“We use technology to create computer images, using a lot of Hong Kong cultural elements, to bring out the essence of the designs.”
Another CentreStage feature was the Hong Kong Design Centre’s Fashion PMQ event, which highlighted the work of 40 fashion and accessories designers.