Hong Kong has always been known as a forward-looking city, a home of cutting-edge developers in a wide-range of fields, with fashion no exception – hence the theme of Asia’s premier fashion event this year, “Future Tribes”.The high point on Hong Kong’s fashion calendar, this future-focused edition of CENTRESTAGE will run from 4 to 7 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the show features some 240 brands and more than 40 fashion events, offering an ideal platform for fashion brands and designers to gain international exposure, and helping reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a leading fashion hub in the region. Speaking at a media preview of the event, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said: “CENTRESTAGE returns once again to provide a comprehensive promotional platform through which Asian fashion brands and budding designers can launch and present their latest fashion collections and connect with global buyers and fashionistas at the same time. I am happy to see a greater number of local and international fashion brands participating at this year’s CENTRESTAGE, underscoring the event’s position as Asia’s leading launch and marketing platform for fashion brands and highlighting its ability to create diverse business opportunities.”
International brands foster interaction
CENTRESTAGE 2019 – “Future Tribes” will feature three thematic zones. ALLURE – representing craftsmanship, refinement and elegance; ICONIC – displaying avant-garde designs; and METRO – showcasing contemporary, minimalistic expressions of urban life. The 2019 show will feature about 240 fashion brands, including more than 80 local brands along with international labels from Mainland China, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the United States and more. About 1,600 international fashion buyers have been organised into 36 buying missions, providing opportunities for designers to interact with the industry and obtain useful market insights.
Fashion show
The spotlight opening gala show on 4 September (Wednesday), CENTRESTAGE ELITES, will see the global launch of the latest 2020 spring collections from Hong Kong designer Anais Mak’s internationally renowned brand, ANAÏS JOURDEN, as well as acclaimed New York designer Joseph Altuzarra’s brand, ALTUZARRA.
New designers
Following CENTRESTAGE ELITES, the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show on the evening of 4 September will feature seven local designer labels that have made an impact around the world, including 112mountainyam (Designer: Mountain Yam), DORISKATH (Designer: Doris Kath Chan), FROM ANOTHER PLANET (Designer: Kenax Leung), HARRISON WONG (Designer: Harrison Wong), MEIKING NG (Designer: June Ng), METHODOLOGY (Designer: Glori Tsui) and YEUNG CHIN (Designer: Yeung Chin). Following their participation in international fashion weeks in New York, London, Copenhagen and Tokyo under the Fashion Hong Kong banner, these designers will present their latest collections at CENTRESTAGE, demonstrating Hong Kong’s creative prowess. Fashion Hong Kong is a series of international events organised by the HKTDC to promote Hong Kong fashion designers and labels in the global fashion arena. Another highlight of this year’s CENTRESTAGE will be the finals of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2019 (YDC) held on 7 September (Saturday). The VIP judge for YDC 2019 is Mihara Yasuhiro, a renowned Japanese designer, who will share his insightful critiques with the finalists. The 16 shortlisted candidates will compete for five honours, including champion, first runner-up, second runner-up, the New Talent Award and Best Footwear Design Award. The winners will be announced on the same day.The five winners of YDC 2019 will be unveiled after 16 finalists have presented their collections employing different design elements and special fabrication techniques. The shortlisted works include: Louis Lee’s Earthly Redemption, Enzo Chan’s SINCE 1996, Hannah Wong’s ma tenue, Kenny Tien’s Accident or Incident, Tiffany Chan’s The Sower, Wilson Yip’s Forgetful Still, Kelly Lau’s Hope-Kinetics, Louis Chow’s Already But Not Yet, Man Chun Hei’s Self, Simon Cheng’s Galactic Fireworks, Kenneth Tsang’s Juncture Reborn, Kayan Lam’s Jeux Olympiques, Cyrus Chan’s Masterbae, Andy Chiu’s Synthesis, Lion Sze’s Farmer, and Vivian Tam’s messy messy.
Fashion shoots capture local creativity
A YDC fashion shoot in the runup to the event showcased the finalists’ collections, taking the theme of famous Hong Kong advertisements from the 1980s and 90s to highlight the unique aesthetic of the city’s fashion.The 16 finalists are vying for some valuable prizes, with the top three winners gaining internships or overseas study trips sponsored by Hong Kong’s Sun Hing Knitting Factory Ltd, MINI and HKTDC-supported local online fashion hub FASHIONALLY. Meanwhile, winners of the Best Footwear Design Award and the New Talent Award will receive mentorships from i.t apparels Ltd and JOYCE to develop their own unique capsule collections.The 2019 YDC winners will be selected by an esteemed panel of judges comprising senior industry and media representatives. The panel is led by Lawrence Leung, Chairman of the HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee, who will be joined by Michael Mok, Head of Merchandising at JOYCE, Vogue Hong Kong Chief Editor Peter Wong, Stylist and Art Director Declan Chan, Tomorrow Ltd Senior Area Manager Jonathan Lee and i.t. apparels Ltd Head of Footwear Virginia Chan. The panel members will provide insightful critiques to all the finalists.
Mr Yasuhiro has been invited as the YDC 2019 VIP judge. The Japanese designer always thinks out of the box to bring a playful theme to each of the garments in his collections, with designs that attract attention through some unique and surprising ideas. Mr Yasuhiro is the founder of MIHARA YASUHIRO, his eponymous brand, which is distributed worldwide by more than 70 stores and stockists including leading retailers such as Selfridges, Harrods, SSENSE and Hong Kong’s I.T and JOYCE.
Past YDC designers showcase collections
To celebrate the MINI car’s 60th anniversary, 14 previous YDC designers have been invited to return to the YDC stage to present a special MINI x YDC fashion show. This unique collection is inspired by the features of classic MINI models over the past six decades. The show will be launched alongside the NEW MINI CLUBMAN to create a spectacular event that showcases both the beauty of the car and the creativity of local designers. In addition, a brand new MINI 60 Years Edition painted in classic British Racing Green will make an appearance at the post-YDC party. Participating brands include: 112 mountainyam, ARTO., Charlotte Ng Studio, DEMO, Fake Fan, FromClothingOf, HARRISON WONG, KENAXLEUNG, KEVIN HO, Lapeewee, NECRO POON, S.F.Z. & Son, YEUNG CHIN and YMDH.Yeung Shun Leong, winner of the YDC 2018 New Talent Award sponsored by JOYCE, is set to launch his first collaboration collection with the renowned fashion retailer. Based on his YDC winning collection, Mr Yeung has taken his inspiration from mixed martial arts (MMA) and other sporting elements while applying techniques such as piece dyeing, stone-washing and waxing to create a functional yet creative collection. This capsule collection will launch at JOYCE Pacific Place in late August.
FASHIONALLY
Local online fashion hub FASHIONALLY.com will feature its FASHIONALLY Collection #14 fashion show on 4 September (Wednesday), presenting eight rising local fashion designers and labels. Three up-and-coming Hong Kong brands, Charlotte Ng Studio, Fake Fan and SFZ & SON, will combine art installations with fashion parades at the FASHIONALLY Presentation, providing a creative showcase for their latest collections.Redress, a local non-governmental organisation promoting sustainable fashion, will present the Redress Design Award, the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition, on 5 September (Thursday), sponsored by CreateHK. The Knitwear Innovation and Design Society will present the Knitwear Symphony 2019 and the ninth Hong Kong Knitwear Designers’ Contest on 6 September (Friday) to promote Hong Kong’s knitwear industry.
Hong Kong in Fashion
To build a fashion buzz in the wider community, the HKTDC is collaborating with more than 90 partners to host Hong Kong in Fashion − a series of creative events taking place across the city from 17 August to 30 September at locations ranging from shopping malls and restaurants to hotels and fashion venues. The campaign gives people throughout the city the chance to experience the power of fashion and the creative spark that underpins it, bringing life and colour to Hong Kong and further enhancing the city’s status as Asia's fashion capital.
Related links
CENTRESTAGE
Fashionally – YDC
