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Welcome Message

A very warm welcome to CENTRESTAGE 2022, one of Asia’s signature fashion events.

Running under the theme “Inclusion and Diversity” with the hashtag “#MeMyselfAndUs”, this year’s CENTRESTAGE emphasises self-expression and the uniqueness of individuals. It also encourages embracing different cultures and values, and promotes the free and bold articulation of beauty and creativity.

This year, the show is playing host to more than 230 fashion brands and designer labels from 15 countries and regions, providing an ideal platform to unveil the latest collections and fashion accessories. On top of physical presentation, the brands’ info and designs are also featured on the CENTRESTAGE 2022 website, which is jointly developed by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and our digital content partner Vogue Hong Kong, enabling buyers to view them without temporal and spatial constraints. Overseas buyers can also meet the exhibitors online to explore business opportunities via our business matching services.

CENTRESTAGE kicks off with CENTRESTAGE ELITES. The opening gala show is staged with models strutting down the runway in the 2023 spring/summer collections by Hong Kong label DEMO, co-founded by Derek Chan and Mite Chan, and Japanese designer Hideaki Shikama’s brand, Children of the discordance. The show will be livestreamed to the CENTRESTAGE website and social media channels.

Having long served as a launch pad for local talent to kickstart their career and make their mark in fashion, the “Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest” (YDC) will be held on the last day of CENTRESTAGE (11 September), for which a panel of eminent judges will select the fashion stars of tomorrow.

In addition, around 30 fashion shows, mini parades and insightful seminars have been arranged throughout the three days.

Following last year’s well-received response, CENTRESTAGE is once again open to the public, giving fashion lovers the opportunity to experience the extravaganza as well as check out current styles and fashion trends. To enhance public engagement, an array of interactive experiences empowered by AR and VR technology will be offered at the fairground. Highlights include virtual try-on of outfits specially designed for CENTRESTAGE, as well as “CENTREVERSE”, a custom-built phygital experience that allows visitors to participate in various fashion events virtually and interact using their personalised avatars.

Moreover, a series of fashion-related events and promotions has been staged across Hong Kong, including Central Market, D2 Place and Harbour City, under the CENTRESTAGE in Town citywide campaign to spread the buzz from the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to every corner of the city.

We wish you a fruitful and inspiring time at CENTRESTAGE 2022.

Katherine Fang
Chairman
HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee

Margaret Fong
Executive Director
Hong Kong Trade Development Council

May the Force be with US

The collaboration between Vogue Hong Kong and Hong Kong Centrestage has entered its third year, with the themes “A World of Phygital” in 2020, “Chapter Infinity” in 2021 and “Me, Myself & Us” in 2022, reflecting the rapidly changing times over these past three years.

The pandemic drove us to a Phygital lifestyle. Livestream, WFH and Zoom were born, quickly becoming the norm.

Infinity represents possibility. Impossible becomes I'm possible.

This year, we explore D&I - diversity and inclusion - two buzzwords in the fashion industry.

On the runway, models of all shapes, sizes and skin tones are the first step for Diversity. Behind the scenes, the equal participation of different races and genders in the creative process still has a long journey ahead before reaching true Inclusivity.

Diversity, inclusion and acceptance can be seen as far back as 40 years ago, in the legendary movie “Star Wars” by George Lucas. The human Jedi, the almost 1000 year old Yoda, the memorable giant Jabba the Hutt, Chewie, the long-haired Wookie, the controversial Jar Jar Binks and more all coexist across different planets, and are all accepted as who they are.

One figure spearheading the movement towards authentic diversity & inclusion is Rihanna, who has also shown that upholding these values can be a winning business model. The entrepreneur, singer and makeup mogul founded the beauty brand Fenty Beauty with 40 shades of foundation at launch, embracing all different skin tones. She then went on to launch the Savage x Fenty underwear brand, inviting models like the pregnant Slick Woods alongside models with mobility aids and models of varying body types, redefining the standard of beauty and successfully bringing a new and long-awaited change to the fashion industry.

To distinguish “me” and “you” does not need to be a confrontation, but an acceptance. "Us" does not mean all assimilating to the same thing, but rather a sharing - respecting each person's characteristics and accepting each other. Unity can be difficult but it is the source of true strength and potential, and the Force behind everything.

This year, we brings together x brands. I look forward to watching these New Forces of Fashion shining more brightly together, as a united front.

Kat Yeung

Asia’s fashion showcase Centrestage Concludes

Asia’s fashion showcase CENTRESTAGE concludes

Survey – 70% see seasonless fashion as key promotional strategy

 

13 September 2021 – Asia’s premier fashion event CENTRESTAGE, 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*, drew to a successful close yesterday. The three-day extravaganza (10 to 12 September) brought together more than 200 fashion brands from 24 countries and regions, with 30 fashion events taking place. It attracted over 2,550 trade buyers and more than 17,200 public visitors to participate and source fashion items. Over the three days of the event, close to 700 video business meetings were arranged to match global fashion buyers with exhibitors online.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said: “CENTRESTAGE, the premier annual event in the Asian fashion industry, is the first and largest fashion event staged in Hong Kong since the pandemic began. The fair helped industry participants exchange the latest fashion information and develop their businesses. I am pleased to see talented designers launching their latest fashion collections and apparel, showing an endless stream of creativity and vitality. The show was fully open to public visitors for the first time, attracting fashionistas and members of the public who follow fashion trends. The atmosphere in the fairground was positive and it was a special experience for everyone.”

 

53% say fashion sales will increase in 2022 – significantly higher than 2019 survey
The HKTDC conducted a survey during the show to gauge future product trends and the outlook for the fashion industry, interviewing more than 290 exhibitors and buyers. On sales prospects and the market outlook for 2022, 53% of respondents believed that overall sales would increase in the coming year – a significant increase on the 31% who expressed the same sentiment at the 2019 CENTRESTAGE – while 33% expected things to remain steady. Fifty-four per cent expected production or sourcing costs to increase while 40% expected they would remain unchanged. When asked how the pandemic has impacted the fashion business, respondents stated that a drop in sales/revenue (64%), rising sourcing and production costs (27%) and a decrease in the number of physical shops (26%) were the main consequences.

On fashion trends, 45% of those surveyed expected casual wear and city wear to be the most popular in 2022, followed by fashion accessories (24%) and sportswear (14%). Regarding their promotional strategies in the coming year, 70% either agreed or completely agreed that “seasonless” collections would be the most prevalent trend in the fashion industry next year, while 62% expected the “see now, buy now” model would also be popular.

The sixth CENTRESTAGE ran with “Chapter Infinity” as its central theme, encouraging those in the fashion industry to take creative approaches and reignite their design inspiration in the pandemic era, exploring the countless opportunities that lie ahead. ITOCHU Textile Prominent, the Hong Kong subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate ITOCHU, joined CENTRESTAGE for the first time. Celia Lo, Manager of ITOCHU Textile Prominent, said she identified two local designer brands for developing the company’s women’s casual wear business and will place orders averaging 1,000 pieces for each style.

CHEMRO, which operates fashion shops in Korea, also sourced at CENTRESTAGE. Danny Chau, Director of CHEMRO, said most of their customers are young people looking for new fashion styles. He said he found four new designer brands from Italy, Hong Kong and Mainland China, and expected that his company would place trial orders involving 1,000 pieces of each men’s, women’s and children’s style per colour.

 

Local designers shine, enhancing visibility of young fashion brands
More than 20 fashion shows were held during the exhibition. The spotlight opening gala show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, featured the global launch of the 2022 spring/summer collections from local designers Calvin Chan and Joyce Kun’s renowned brand The World Is Your Oyster, as well as acclaimed Korean designer Lee Mooyeol’s brand, YOUSER. Extended reality (XR) was used to boost the stage show, which attracted many industry professionals, celebrities and fashionistas. Augmented reality (AR) effects were employed to enhance the online viewing experience – click here to enjoy the show.

Another exciting catwalk show, Fashion Go Places, celebrated the international footprint of Hong Kong designers at international fashion weeks. METHODOLOGY Creative Director Glori Tsui said it was already the sixth year participating in CENTRESTAGE. The company showcased its latest casual collection for women, along with bags and jewellery, attracting a lot of attention and achieving positive results. Another brand, THAT’S CHONG, which specialises in wedding and bridal accessories, participated in CENTRESTAGE for the first time. Its director Boo Chong said a local exporter approached them to explore cooperation and introduce the company’s products to the overseas market. She also connected with a supplier selling Japanese ribbons and trimmings that could be used in their latest range of bridal accessories.

 

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3z6f43C

The sixth CENTRESTAGE brought together more than 200 fashion brands from 24 countries and regions, with 30 fashion events taking place. It attracted over 2,550 trade buyers and more than 17,200 public visitors to participate and source
More than 20 fashion shows were held at CENTRESTAGE, including the Hong Kong Emerging Talents Show and Fashion Go Places. Multiple brands showcased their latest collections on stage

Brand: RICKKY WONG STUDIO
Elva Ni
Brand: KanaLili
Brands: Sparkle by Karen Chan and The Sparkle Collection
Various local fashion brands staged catwalk shows during CENTRESTAGE, including RICKYY WONG STUDIO, KanaLili, Sparkle by Karen Chan and The Sparkle Collection

Hins Cheung
Brand: The World Is Your Oyster
Brand: YOUSER
CENTRESTAGE ELITES brought together renowned Hong Kong designers Calvin Chan and Joyce Kun’s brand The World Is Your Oyster, as well as acclaimed Korean designer Lee Mooyeol’s brand, YOUSER, in a joint fashion show featuring their 2022 spring/summer collections on the first day of the event

Jinny Ng
Ava Liu
Mandy Cho
112 mountainyam, DORISKATH and METHODOLOGY participated in the Fashion Go Places show on Saturday evening (11 September). The show was supported by numerous celebrities
Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2021, an international forum focused on sustainable development in the fashion industry, ran during CENTRESTAGE under the theme “Design for the Future”, attracting many industry participants. Create Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government* is the Lead Sponsor of the Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2021.
Redress presented the Grand Final of the Redress Design Award 2021, the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition, to discover new eco-friendly fashion stars. Create Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government* is the Lead Sponsor of the Redress Design Award 2021.
“Hong Kong Kids Fashion Show” (left) which featured a collection of internationally renowned brands, and the “LEGO x Hong Kong Designers Parade” (right) were well received by audiences
CENTRESTAGE in Town featured a series of fashion events beyond the CENTRESTAGE fairground, collaborating with Hong Kong boutiques, shopping malls and cultural landmarks to generate a fashion buzz across the city

 

Websites

 

Media enquiries

For more information or to request interviews, please contact the HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:

Snowy Chan

Tel: (852) 2584 4537

Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

Agnes Wat

Tel: (852) 2584 4554

Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

 

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

 

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on  Twitter @hktdc and  LinkedIn

 

*Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.