Chanunpat Pisanapipong, Thai Ministry of Commerce’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), represented by Trade Commissioner & Consul, Thailand

“Thailand Qurated Fashion Project is an incubation programme committed to helping Thai young designers grow internationally. We provide assistance in production technology and other aspects to promote the exports of young designers’ collections. This is our second-year participation in CETRENSTAGE to help our designer brands gain international exposure. At our debut last year, several of our brands successfully developed business with Hong Kong companies. We’ve brought together 34 brands from Thailand to showcase their creative designs and various collections like dresses, casual wear and office suits at CENTRESTAGE this year. The feedback is very positive and our runway show has drawn a lot of interest. About 80 virtual business matching meetings have been arranged between our brands and buyers from different places including Hong Kong, Japan and Indonesia. We are positive about concluding business with more buyers. This fair is a great springboard for Thai fashion brands to find new buyers and expand business.”

Angel Tam (left), Co-founder, and Celia Ng (right), Co-founder, Femance, Hong Kong

“In business for three years, Femance specialises in the design and production of leather handbags. We sell our handbags mainly through online channel and pop-up sales outlets. We are making our debut at CENTRESTAGE this year to launch our sustainable handbag collection and promote our branding. The latest design makes use of water-resistant canvas to blend with recycled leather that is regenerated from leftover fabrics, leather and plastic bottles. The feedback from customers is very positive here. Some local consumers have come forward to make purchases. Eight virtual business meetings have been arranged with overseas buyers from Mainland China, India and Thailand to explore business cooperation. One buyer from Mainland China has expressed interest in ordering. Some local fabrics suppliers have also visited our booth for possible partnership while Sincere has approached us for collaboration. It’s a very rewarding exhibition. We are pleased with the results.”

Victor Chan, Founder, Victor Chan Studio, Hong Kong

“This is my first-time participation in CENTRESTAGE to showcase my new evening gowns. I am so pleased to take advantage of such a major platform to promote my latest design ‘Inner Lightness” – a complete eight-piece collection of evening gowns in black colour with inlaid gold-coloured details, and strong focus on layering and lightness of the dresses. The response to my runway show is very good and some customers have come to try the dresses right after the show. The prospect of business is very positive. This fair really opens up new opportunities for business growth. I will continue to exhibit here next year to gain more exposure.”

Charlotte Ng, Founder, Charlotte Ng Studio, Hong Kong

“This is my third-year participation in CENTRESTAGE to promote my brand and new collections. CENTRESTAGE serves as an excellent platform to release my latest designs including leather dresses, leather vests and knitted wear this year. The concept behind the new collection is turning defects into beauty and perfection with the focus on out-of-the-ordinary design details such as incorporating a sleeve in fragmented fabrics and blending two markedly different knitted stitches together. I am very pleased to be able to generate positive responses again. So far, five virtual business matching meetings have been arranged with local and overseas buyers this year. A Paris-based fashion retailer, who bought my collections at CENTRESTAGE in 2019 and last year, is back again to meet us through the online platform. I look forward to establishing further business cooperation with this French buyer and other customers. CENTRESTAGE not only allows my brand to reach out to professional buyers, but also provides a good opportunity to interact with local consumers who really love my designs. I am able to sell many pieces of my new collection at the fair every time.”

Maggie Lui, Founder & Brand Director, Match Showroom Limited, Hong Kong

“Match Showroom is showcasing a total of 14 sustainable fashion and lifestyle brands at CENTRESTAGE this year. This fair offers a solid platform for us to promote various brands that embrace sustainability, upcycling and the use of natural fabrics to customers. We have successfully raised our profile and increased people’s awareness of our commitment to promoting sustainable fashion and lifestyle products through our exhibition here. The 14 brands featured this year come from Nordic countries, Japan and other Asian countries including Mainland China. Highlights include new shoes of Dafu Feiyue from Mainland China, a cross-over apparel collection using recycled fabrics, scarves of Japanese brand nitorito and scented diffusers of HAUSTAGE. The feedback is positive. Two watch companies exhibiting at the Watch & Clock Fair in the next door have approached us to explore collaboration. This is a perfect place to gain exposure and promote our brands.”

Ka Yan Lam, Founder/Designer, WHY, Hong Kong

“WHY is a young designer brand with a history about three years providing stylish casual wear for men and women. Our debut at CENTRESTATE last year was a success where local consumers came forth to purchase our designs. Through connections of those customers, we secured an order to design staff uniform for a western restaurant and developed business cooperation with local artistic troupes. We are showcasing again at CENTRESTATE this year to gain more exposure. Our new collection draws inspirations from the tribal costumes of ethnic minorities worldwide offering casual wear in free size with unique cutting and styles. The response is even better than last year. We’ve already got seven orders from local customers in the first two days of exhibition. I am very happy with the results.”

Chole Zhang, Managing Director, SUPERMINT, Hong Kong

“SUPERMINT represents more than 50 young designer brands from Asia including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, South Korea, Japan and Thailand. This is our first participation in CENTRE to promote our brands and enhance their international presence. A total of eight brands are highlighted here offering a selection of dresses, casual wear and office suits for ladies as well as accessories like handbags, shoes, jewellery and sunglasses. The feedback is very positive. We’ve already sold some handbags and jewellery items while some customers have expressed interest in our ladies’ wear. The organiser has arranged more than 10 virtual business matching meeting with buyers from Hong Kong, Mainland China and Thailand. We hope to take advantage of this platform to develop new business and extend the international sales and distribution channels for our brands.”

Rickyy Wong, Founder & Designer, RICKYY WONG, Hong Kong

“Our brand puts strong emphasis on the style of self-expression in men’s and women’s wear for everyday use. We target particularly customers aged late 20s to 40 years old. This is our second-year appearance at CENTRESTATE to explore new business opportunities. The new collection highlighted this year gets inspirations from the superb craftsmanship of ancient armour in old castles of Europe. The men’s and women’s wear comes with unique prints on sustainable fabrics and a European classic style. Local consumers love our designs. This fair sets a good stage for our brand to gain exposure and recognition among local customers.”

Jasmine Cheung, Director, The Life Etc., Hong Kong

“The Life Etc. is showcasing at CENTRESTAGE for the first time to expand business. Sportswear for women is the focus of our exhibition. The collection features a variety of new designs from sports bras to tennis dresses, sweat shirts, leggings, over-sleeves, cycling pants and workout bags. Our designs are easy to mix and match offering great flexibility and functionality. We have received a lot of interest from local consumers. PMQ has visited our booth and approached us for cooperation to open sales outlet in its venue. We also appreciate the virtual business matching service enabling us to establish contact with overseas buyers from Mainland China, Thailand, India and Kazakhstan. This fair is a great place to promote our brand and get to know more customers. We will continue exhibit here.”

Doris Chan, Managing Director, athenaeum(m.), Hong Kong

“In business since the end of 2020, our brand is staging its first-ever exhibition at CENTRESTATE this year. We have showcased our new ladies’ wear collection ‘moonoom’ exuding a trendy and romantic style with an artistic touch and nostalgic elements. The collection covers blouses, pants, skirts, one-piece dresses, jackets, handbags, Tote bags and scarves, mainly in black and creamy-white garnished with pink and green essence colours. The response is surprisingly strong. We’ve received several orders for tops and handbags in the first two days of exhibition. Through the virtual business matching platform, we’ve found a lifestyle shop based in Guangzhou wishing to purchase our designs. This fair really opens up new business opportunities for our growth.”

Marcello Pignatelli, Creative Director, Dal Duca, Hong Kong

“Dal Duca is participating in CENTRESTAGE for the first time to promote our made to measure and bespoke tailoring services. We offer top-notched menswear and services to clients looking for styles and high-quality materials. Our men’s suits, shirts, jackets and leisure wear are hand sewn by experienced craftsmen in Naples to provide customers with an Italian tailoring experience. We make use of fine fabrics like silk and vicuna, and embrace the concept of sustainability by blending eco-friendly nettle fabric with silk to ensure exceptional comfort. Besides Hong Kong customers, we’ve established a strong clientele in Mainland China. This fair offers an opportunity to raise our profile. We’ve found two new customers in the first two days of exhibition and expect to secure more clients during the fair. It’s a good start for business expansion.”

Doris Kath Chan, Fashion Creative Director, DORIS KATH, Hong Kong

“DORIS KATH strives to offer creative ladies’ wear with a special focus on the versatility of clothes and the mix and match to present different looks. We have been participating in CENTRESTAGE to promote our brand over the years. At the fair this year, we’ve launched the latest sustainable collection that uses old clothes like men’s suits and denim trousers to make ladies’ wear. This initiative gives a new lease of life to old clothes and we’ve received strong enquiry from customers for the remaking of old clothes into one ones. We also showcased our new accessories brand here. CENTRESTAGE really helps raise our profile and by opening to public visitors, it has increased our brand’s exposure to Hong Kong customers. The virtual business matching meetings enable us to interact with overseas buyers effectively.”

Natacha Van, Founder & Creative Director, NATACHA VAN, Hong Kong

NATACHA VAN is a fashion designer brand based in Hong Kong and Phnom Penh. My designs have made our way to the runways in London, Paris, Milan and New York over the years. This is our first-time participation in CENTRESTAGE for the first time to promote our newest designs and understand the fashion market in Hong Kong. My latest collection for both men and women makes use of Cambodian silk and brocade fabrics to bring about a daily luxury through contrasts in different aspects. A number of people have shown interest in my designs. The fair offers a good platform to extend our reach and gain more exposure.”

Mountain Yam, Founder, 112 mountainyam, Hong Kong

“Our showcase at CENTRESTAGE this year marks a milestone for our brand as we take a big stride forward to create sustainable fashion. Up to 90% of our new designs are now using eco-friendly and recycled fabrics to embrace sustainability in a holistic way. We’ve also launched a new brand myam offering everyday wear made of eco-friendly fabrics. Our runway show has been well received as chic and creative eco-fashion draws a lot of interest. We’ve seen more customers coming to the fair. The atmosphere is lively and people are keen to join the excitement. At the fair, we’ve put on sale our inventory with many styles available at attractive prices for public consumers to choose and buy. The sales response has been positive. This is a successful exhibition again.”

Jun Wong, Managing Director, JUNW Natural, Hong Kong

“We are participating in CENTRESTAGE for the second consecutive year to promote our brand and the latest ladies’ wear. Last year’s debut witnessed the strong buying power of local consumers. We are showcasing our new ladies’ wear with exclusive prints under the Oceanic theme this year Our beautiful prints revolve around the theme with various oceanic features like sea creatures and sea sand, characterized by the colours of ocean. Our runway show has drawn a lot of attention from people looking for creative designs and comfort. Some customers came to buy our dresses immediately after the runway show. The traffic of visitors is good. We’ve received good buying support and sold quite a number of pieces again this year.”

Antonia Yue, Founder, Antonia Y. Jewelry, Hong Kong

“We made our debut at CENTRESTAGE last year to promote our jewellery collection and generated good sales. That’s why we participated in the fair again this year to find more customers. Our jewellery items are easy to mix and match with fashion to express one’s true self. The new jewellery collection adorned with crystals come in timeless design and classic styles. We’ve experienced positive sales response again. Many customers came to pick what they want and those items in the price range of HK$800 to HK$1,000 each are the best sellers. The organiser has arranged several virtual business matching meetings for us with overseas buyers from Mainland China and South Africa. We look forward to developing business with them. We will continue to exhibit here next year and hopefully by that time, travel restrictions are relaxed and we will be able to meet with overseas buyers here.”