Fifteen finalists have been shortlisted for this year’s Hong Kong Young Designers Contest (YDC), at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre next month.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the event includes awards for footwear design and new talent. On September 9, it is the finale of the three-day Centrestage, the council’s signature international fashion trade fair.

Mug, founder and designer of Japanese fashion brand GVGV, will be the VIP judge. A graduate of Kuwasawa Design School, Mug set up her label in Tokyo in 1999 and has participated in Tokyo Fashion Week since 2003. The brand is sold exclusively for Hong Kong at I.T stores.

Also on the judging panel are senior industry and media representatives. Chief judge is HKTDC garment advisory committee chairman Lawrence Leung. Other judges include C.Dongliang and Labelhood brand director/co-founder Tasha Liu, Joyce Boutique general merchandising manager Michael Mok, Marie Claire chief editor Marcella Wong, I.T Apparels COO Deborah Cheng and head of footwear Virginia Chan, and The Woolmark Company project manager Brian Tam.

Apart from cash prizes, the five YDC winners will be offered overseas trips or mentorships.

The champion as well as the two runners-up will be offered internships or study trips abroad sponsored by Sun Hing Knitting Factory, The Woolmark Company and Mini Cooper. Winners of the Best Footwear Design Award and the New Talent Award will receive mentorships from I.T Apparels and Joyce Boutique respectively to develop capsule collections.

HKTDC established YDC in 1977 to identify and nurture emerging talent in the fashion industry. It has become the launchpad of such brands and designers as Barney Cheng, Cecilia Yau and Harrison Wong.

The 15 finalist collections this year are:

1. Alee Lee – “Reinventing the Art of Handweaving”

2. Murfi Lau – “Les Lie”

3. Wilson Choi – “The Stolen Soul”

4. Arto Wong – “Zero to Unlimited”

5. Sonic Lam – “Barren Land”

6. Jessica Wong – “The Wave”

7. Helianthus To – “Lab Rat”

8. Kinyan Lam – “Birthmark”

9. Chang Tak Yee – “Totem in Fashion”

10. Jason Lee – “Kingdom of the Underground”

11. Yoyo Ng – “Humeur”

12. Ayumi Kwan – “Primordial Hue”

13. Tommy Wan – “The Impossible Love Trilogy”

14. Kelvin Yiu – “Des Order”

15. Wong Ka Wai – “Streamline”