Winners of the Centrestage Young Designers’ Competition 2018 have been announced at a presentation ceremony at HKCEC.
The competition was won by Leo Chan for his design “Wandervogel”. Yip Yeung-yeung, Ng Cho-kiu, and Yeung Shun-leong also placed in the awards. VIP Judge Martine Rose noted “I was impressed by the skill and craftsmanship presented by the young Hong Kong fashion designers. The advice I would give to young designers is to keep your identity and listen to yourself, to be brave and continue on your path.”
The fashion event, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), gives brands an opportunity to reveal their latest collections through fashion shows and presentations at the venue.
Over the four days, Centrestage showcased over 230 local and overseas fashion brands through a series of catwalks and fashion forums. This year, the event attracted 8700 buyers from 80 countries and regions, up 3.5 per cent over last year. Buyers from Asia accounted for 35 per cent of the total.
The HKTDC commissioned an independent research agency to conduct on-site surveys during Centrestage, interviewing more than 300 exhibitors and buyers on the future of the fashion industry. The survey found that the industry is cautiously optimistic about sales in the coming year. Nearly 60 per cent of the respondents expect overall sales to remain steady, while about 30 per cent expect overall sales to grow. While nearly half of industry players surveyed expect sourcing price/production cost increases, almost 60 per cent of the respondents said they would not raise unit or retail prices, thus reflecting a general tendency in the industry to not transfer increased costs to customers.
Around 30 per cent of respondents agreed that partnership with celebrities or online influencers is an effective strategy to promote brands.
Images courtesy of HKTDC.
