Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE 2017, China

CENTRESTAGE, the promotion and launch platform for top international and Asian fashion brands and designers, was held from 6-9 September, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The 2nd edition CENTRESTAGE features more than 210 fashion brands from 22 countries and regions, along with nearly 40 fashion events, including the opening gala fashion show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, some 20 fashion shows, as well as designer sharing sessions, an industry forum, trend forecast seminars and networking activities.

Under the theme “Nouveau Playhouse,” this year’s CENTRESTAGE, which is one of the celebration activities of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, features three thematic zones: GLAM, ALLURE and METRO, Highlighting fashion brands from the Chinese mainland, Chinese Taiwan, Australia, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States, among others.

Numerous local brands also join the show, exhibiting local brands and designer labels include anagram, Angus Tsui, DORISKATH, HARRISON WONG, House of V, i.t, KENAXLEUNG and Loom Loop. A number of overseas brands such as CHENG PAI CHENG (Chinese Taiwan), DEW E DEW E (Korea), DRESSEDUNDRESSED (Japan), Edward Achour (France) and POURQUOI (Macau) will also participate.

Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE is Asia’s premier fashion event, offering a promotion platform for fashion brands and designers to showcase their talent. Events such fashion shows, designer sharing sessions, open talks, trend analyses and networking opportunities, with the objective of connecting local brands with the global fashion industry.

The Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE showcase of high-calibre local and overseas fashion talents, and exciting, engaging events was held during the show period. It has created a fashion extravaganza that enables brands to overcome geographical and time limitations to showcase their latest designs to buyers and fashionistas.

CENTRESTAGE 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. 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.

Opening ceremony
About 20 fashion shows was held during CENTRESTAGE. On the first evening, the large-scale opening gala fashion show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, showcase the 2018 spring/summer collections of Kain Picken and Fiona Lau’s FFIXXED STUDIOS, as well as Korean designer Juun.J, who is staging his namesake brand’s first runway show in Hong Kong. Juun.J’s first-ever show in Hong Kong is made possible with the collaboration of his brand’s partner JOYCE and the HKTDC. JUUN. J’s 2017 fall/winter collection is also currently on offer at JOYCE.

Since 2015, the HKTDC has been organising Hong Kong participation at international fashion weeks under the theme of “Fashion Hong Kong,” including in fashion weeks and major fashion fairs in Tokyo, Copenhagen, New York and Shanghai.

On the first night of CENTRESTAGE, following the large-scale opening gala fashion show CENTRESTAGE ELITES, the HKTDC stage the “FASHION HONG KONG” RUNWAY SHOW.

Following CENTRESTAGE ELITES, the “FASHION HONG KONG” RUNWAY SHOW present the 2018 Pre-Spring and spring/summer collections of six local brands: HARRISON WONG (designer: Harrison Wong), KENAXLEUNG (designer: Kenax Leung), LOOM LOOP (designer: Polly Ho), DORISKATH (designer: Doris Kath Chan), Maison Vermillion (designer: Dora Chu)., and HOUSE OF V (designer: Vickie Au).

Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2017
Over the years, the YDC has paved the way for many fine designers in the local fashion industry and nurtured Hong Kong designer brands. This year’s event see 15 shortlisted young fashion designers competing for the top three awards, the Best Footwear Design Award and the newly established New Talent Award.

The works of the finalists was assessed based on creativity, originality, market potential, workmanship, use of fabrics and overall visual appeal.

Champion: Arto Wong: “Zero to Unlimited”
Inspired by the immense possibilities of transforming molecules to matter, Arto Wong sought to play with weight and proportion. She chose to use knitwear, which offered versatility as patterns could be created from scratch, and is not bound by what is commercially available. The designer showed off her eye for vivid and striking motifs, which are complemented by a solid background. Crafted from polyester yarn, the designs achieved volume, while remaining incredibly light. The collection serves as a story of aspiration and empowerment to never underestimate the energy released by combining small molecules.

First Runner-up: Sonic Lam: “Barren Land”
Although raised in Hong Kong, Sonic Lam was only exposed to its metropolitan beauty through Wong Kai Wai films, as well as the dystopian Japanese animation Ghost In The Shell. Fascinated by how Hong Kong has evolved from a barren rock to an international hub, he strives through his designs to preserve the best from the city’s past and make them relevant for this generation. Watered gauze, a wispy, silky fabric from the olden days, was extensively used in this collection. Its deliberately washed-out texture lent itself to a distinctive vintage feel. By fusing together old and new, the collection breathes new life into old traditions.

Second Runner-up: Wilson Choi: “The Stolen Soul”
Collegiate apparel with a rebellious undertone defines Wilson Choi’s collection. The 50s Swedish movie Ondskan compelled him to examine the subversive bullying culture plaguing schools and society. Navy blue, a colour broadly associated with school uniform, was chosen as the primary colour that ties together his collection. Furthermore, the maroon brushstroke stripes introduce a sense of defiance, resembling graffiti-like street art. The sportswear-inspired pieces incorporate bonding and seamless techniques on wool; affixing a number of pockets to enhance the designs’ practicality and functionality.

17th Hong Kong Footwear Design Competition
An annual signature event for the industry, the Footwear Design Competition Hong Kong is recognised as the cradle for nurturing and discovering new footwear-design talent needed to sustain future development of the industry. About 70 pieces were shortlisted from nearly 800 inspiring entries received this year, by a judging panel comprised of professionals from related fields. Among them were fashion designers and image consultants, such as Henry Lau, Mountain Yam, Polly Ho, and Christina Dean, founder of the environmental NGO Redress, as well as representatives from the HKTDC, design institutes and industry elites.

Entries competed in six categories: Ladies’ Shoes, Ladies’ Boots, Handbag, Children’s Shoes, Men’s Shoes as well as the Design & Make Collection DIY – Green Footprints Creation, the latter of which is a new category to promote environmental living. Gold, Silver and Bronze Award winners were named in each category, along with prizes awarded to a BELLE Overall Champion and a Best Design Award, voted by the public via the FFHK’s Facebook page.

The entry “Infinity” was named BELLE Overall Champion, Gold Award in the Ladies’ Shoes category and Best Design Award. Motivated by the environment problem of coral bleaching, designer Joanne Li Wai-ting was inspired to use 3D printing technology in her creation. She used a white-colour theme to symbolise dying coral reefs, in a bid to raise public awareness about marine pollution.

Designer Chan Ka-ling, Chan Pui-lam and Lam Wing-yee each received two awards for their exceptional designs.

Highlight events
An array of spectacular runway shows and parades present various brands’ collections across the four-day schedule, enabling global buyers to get a hold of the latest fashion trends. Among those, Knitwear Innovation and Design Society stage Knitwear Symphony and the seventh Hong Kong Young Knitwear Designers’ Contest on 8 September, and organise “Knit Voyage 2017” exhibition during the show period to highlight the strength of local knitwear products to global traders and foster the development of local industry. Besides, multiple networking events and trend seminars was organised during the show, and seasoned industry professionals and experts will analyse the latest trends in fashion.

Meanwhile, local brands such as izzue and Ika Butoni also stage fashion shows during CENTRESTAGE to unveil their latest collections.

Seminar
Apart from fashion shows, the HKTDC once again invite experts from WGSN, Pantone and Fashion Snoops to forecast the coming year’s fashion and retail trends.

The inaugural Fashion Summit (HK) 2017, to be held concurrently, is expected to be the first large-scale summit in Asia on fashion sustainability. Under the theme “Zero Impact,” the two-day conference will gather industry experts to discuss hot industry topics.

Meanwhile, CENTRESTAGE ELITES’ FFIXXED STUDIOS, YDC VIP judge Mug, and a representative from Korea’s Samsung C&T Corporation Fashion Division offer insights into their creative journeys at various sharing sessions.

OPENSTAGE
To allow public getting involved with fashion, CENTRESTAGE transform into OPENSTAGE on the last day of the show (9 Sept), and visitors aged 12 or above was admitted free of charge. The event allow members of the public the chance to experience this major international fashion event and to check out the latest designs from leading brands.

Hong Kong in Fashion
Starting from mid-August, various event partners across the city was joining CENTRESTAGE’s citywide campaign “Hong Kong in Fashion” with a series of curated events, installations and exclusive offers.

The HKTDC and D2 Place join hands to kick-start the campaign with “Hong Kong in Fashion Fiesta@D2 Place” in Lai Chi Kok from 15 August onwards. Exciting events such as Streetsnap Competition (#CENTRESTAGEHK), mini-fashion shows and exhibitions by local design institutes, Fashion Night Out, DIY workshops and KOL broadcast was held. Fashion fans in town.

To extend the fashion buzz to the wider community, the HKTDC has launched the Hong Kong in Fashion citywide campaign from 15 August to 30 September. More than 90 fashionable activities organised in collaboration with more than 100 partners, including high-end hotels, shopping malls, fashion boutiques, restaurants and design institutes, was staged around town, spreading the glamour of CENTRESTAGE across the city.

On 2-3 September, Hong Kong in Fashion host a two-day Fashion Avenue Fest at Wan Chai’s iconic Lee Tung Avenue. Members of the public can take part in a series of creative workshops and enjoy discounts at numerous shops over the weekend. The HKTDC also organise CENTRESTAGE Fashion Street Parade for the public to appreciate the fashion designs of local design institutes and homegrown fashion brands.

Until 30 September, the HKTDC is working with D2 Place to co-organise an array of fashion shows and exhibitions to showcase the works of Hong Kong designers, Fashion Farm Foundation and fashion students from such institutions as SCAD (Hong Kong), HKU SPACE, Hong Kong Design Institute and Caritas Bianchi College of Careers.

HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room.