The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), concluded successfully today, setting a new attendance record with over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions. This year's fair, held from 2 to 5 September, also saw significant growth in buyers from Vietnam, Russia, the US, and Malaysia, underscoring the event's expanding global reach. When combined with the concurrent Salon de Time, the two fairs attracted over 20,000 public visitors, who were admitted free of charge, fostering cross-sector exchange between fashion and lifestyle industries.
The record-breaking participation included some 270 brands from 24 countries and regions, with notable first-time participants such as DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia. HKTDC Associate Executive Director Smilely Lam highlighted the fair's role in helping brands expand internationally, noting the presence of top-tier retail giants like Dover Street Market London, Selfridges, 10 Corso Como, and Musinsa. "The dynamic interactions between exhibitors and buyers demonstrated that the fair successfully fostered cross-sector exchanges among fashion, art, cultural creativity, and lifestyle industries," she said, emphasizing that CENTRESTAGE serves as a vital platform for enhancing brand visibility and unlocking commercial potential.
Industry sentiment remains optimistic, with a survey of over 350 exhibitors and buyers revealing that 96% expect sales to remain steady or grow in the next 12 to 24 months. Fashion design was identified as the most popular product category by 58% of respondents, while 73% agreed that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become increasingly prevalent. To tap into the growing streetwear market, CENTRESTAGE introduced the new Hype² pavilion, featuring brands spearheaded by local celebrities and KOLs. Actress Rosita Kwok, founder of Claro, noted that the fair attracted interest from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Japan, and Germany, laying a foundation for future expansion.
Cross-sector collaborations also drew attention, such as the 'Quartet' collection by local designer Janko Lam's Classics Anew, created in collaboration with ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung. The fair also provided practical support for local brands, with workshops offering valuable guidance. Ronald Chan, founder of Devil Claw, shared that the mentorship helped him understand international buyers' expectations beyond design and price, leading to on-site retail sales and new buyer discussions from France and Taiwan.
Korea's debut as the Featured Partner was a highlight, with a pavilion organized by KOTRA and others presenting 12 Seoul-based designer brands. Wilfred Chung of KOTRA Hong Kong praised the business-matching environment, noting that some brands had already secured deals with Hong Kong buyers. Korean designer Antonio Shin connected with department stores and specialty buyers from multiple countries, while first-time exhibitor Asparagus expects initial orders of US$6,000 to US$7,000. The fair also welcomed first-time national pavilions from Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia, and the UAE, with Austria's pavilion featuring sustainable brands in the Circular Fashion zone.
International buyers expressed strong interest in discovering emerging labels. Sophie Rose Davis-Evans, a buyer from Selfridges, highlighted two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, as potential wholesale partners. Tifandy Okto from Galeries Lafayette Indonesia showed interest in VICETA WANG and WANZZZ for their retail outlets. Richie Chan, founder of Triple Major in Chengdu, placed three on-site orders and connected with premium fabric supplier Lenzing. The fair's new Perfume zone also proved popular, with over 20 brands making their Hong Kong debut and expected on-site retail sales reaching HK$100,000.
The event featured over 40 events, including more than 30 fashion shows, a record high. The opening CENTRESTAGE ELITES showcased KIT WAN STUDIOS, while the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show presented collections from four local labels under the theme 'Hong Kong Dopamine'. Additional presentations by FASHIONALLY.COM and the Redress Design Award, which awarded first prize to German designer Jon Liesenfeld, further enriched the programme. As CENTRESTAGE concludes, it has reinforced Hong Kong's status as a mega-event capital and its role as a superconnector for the global fashion industry.
