Hong Kong Fashion Week 2011 Fall/Winter, China

The 42th Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, and HKTDC World Boutique, Hong Kong, last from January 17 to 20, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. As Asia’s largest fashion fair, the fair welecome about 2,000 top international fashion talent and exhibitors, to showcase the latest brand designs and international fashion.

The two fairs together welcome exhibitors from 28 countries and regions, solidifying Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s trendsetting hub thanks to support from fashion designers and brands from around the world.

The Chinese mainland, Macau, Chinese Taiwan, India and Japan, feature group pavilions. The Japan Pavilion showcases a selection of edgy fashion brands and quality fabric presented by tokyoeye.

The fair is divided into 11 theme zones, including an expanded Emporium de Mode to accommodate additional fashion collections. Fashion Gallery, the largest theme zone in Fashion Week, features collections of high quality and outstanding design from more than 280 exhibitors.

The World of Fashion Accessories presents a mix of accessories, including hats, shoes, handbags, gloves and costume jewellery. Other specialised areas include Garment Mart, Intimate Wear, Infant & Children’s Wear, Bridal & Evening Wear, Fabrics & Yarn, Sewing Supplies, Trade Services and Testing, and Certification & Inspection.

While Fashion Week attracts suppliers of garments, accessories and fashion-related products, World Boutique presents buyers and fashion insiders with a fascinating mix of brand collections and designer labels. The Fashion Extravaganza is also part of the World Boutique event schedule.

This year, World Boutique welcomes Egypt and the Seychelles for the first time. Numerous industry associations are also participating at the fair. They include the Federation of Hong Kong Footwear Ltd, the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, the Hong Kong Fur Federation, the Knitwear Innovation and Design Society, the Council of Fashion Designers, Tokyo, and the Taiwan Textile Federation.

Hong Kong Fashion Week
Hong Kong Fashion Week, as Asia’s most important fashion event, to showcase an array of new season garments, fashion accessories, clothing accessories, fabrics and related professional services, creating an ideal trade platform with a rich vein of business opportunities.

The fair is crafted to reflect current market trends, unveils the latest shimming fashion trends. Hong Kong Fashion Week provide a ultimate one-stop sourcing platform for the industry. As a premier sourcing platform for global buyers, the Hong Kong Fashion Week is also a gateway to vivacious markets of Mainland China and Asia, making it one of the must-attend global events in the fashion industry.

Hong Kong Fashion Week is the ideal platform through which the industry can promote the latest products and exchange the latest information on fashion and market trends. Apart from stylish garments and vibrant brands, the fair presents a next-gen showcase of fashion-savvy technology.

To optimise buyers’ sourcing experiences, the fair is categorised into thematic zones to provide maximum showcase for different sectors of the industry, from garments, designer labels and upstream products, such as fabrics and clothing accessories, to trade services and new production technologies in fashion.

Hong Kong Fashion Week offering strong connections for great business opportunities and deals. The show was attended by many fashion professionals and industry leaders, which is conducive to attracting strategic partners.

Highlight events
Many designers and brands take the opportunity to present their house shows to international buyers and insiders. They include IKA BUTONI, featuring the latest collection of Hong Kong-based designer Ika, the Knitwear Innovation and Design Society, Modessa, a women’s wear company, and Moiselle, a popular Hong Kong women’s-wear label.

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel display a collection of outfits made of metallised fabric at the Trade Services section, while the Hong Kong Fur Federation showcase the Designers Love Fur Collection 2011 at the Hall 1C Concourse.

Cosmetics brand SHISEIDO, which is sponsoring the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza for the second year, and hairdressing company TONI & GUY, will provide make-up and hairstyling support for the fairs. TONI & GUY’s International Artistic Director, Bill Watson, fly in from the United Kingdom to lead the hairstyling team.

Fashion designers Greenie Chau, Barney Cheng, Ika, Sandy Johannsson, Hin Lee, Do Do Leung, Michelle Miao, Lucy Shih and Gary Tsang attended the press conference on the first day. Fashion brand Qinyi sent a representative.

Fashion Extravaganza
Event highlights include the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza, which takes place this evening. The exclusive gala presentation of fashion and lifestyle features four internationally renowned fashion designers showcasing their latest collections at the show.

The stylings of Japan’s Keita Maruyama, acclaimed for his sophisticated, romantic look and his modern take on traditional Japanese motifs, were showcased by Japanese models Ai Tominaga and Yamada Yu.

Korean designer Doii Lee, who worked with John Galliano and Kenzo before branching out on her own, used Korean models Song Eun Ji and Ji Ae.

Mainland model Li Dan Ni wore the fashion of mainland designer Alex Wang, who brings a contemporary look to his designs.

The creations of Barney Cheng, one of Hong Kong’s top designers, were modelled by local artists Fala Chan, Jennifer Tse and Lisa S.

Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest
On the second day, the spotlight shine on the next generation of Hong Kong design talent, with the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2011. This year, Martine Sitbon, Creative Director of Rue du Mail, was the VIP judge. She join Chief Judge Vincent Fang, Chairman of the HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee, and Hong Kong designers Bonita Cheung and Martin Lee.

The contest honour winners for Casual & Jeans-wear, Contemporary Day-wear and Party & Evening-wear. The Overall Winner receive a one-month internship at Rue du Mail in Paris. Winning designs was on display at the Hall 1 Concourse during the fair period. At the 18 January event, four past winners of the competition showcase their latest work in a fashion parade organised under the theme “Phantom Play.”

Creativity, originality, market potential, craftsmanship, wearability, the use of colour and fabric and overall visual impact were the main judging criteria. The winners of the 35th Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2011 was:

Overall Winner: Eva Cheng: “Fragments of the Sky”
The cityscape of Hong Kong and its shadows inspire this collection. Intricate silhouettes unfold with the traditional Chinese paper-cutting technique, which creates a 3D bloom-like shape and layering. The dresses flow in a contrast of black and white, as the city’s skyline and buildings emerge in fragmented, laser-cut images. The designs are sleek and emotive, carrying a longing for the familiar sky.

Champion works “Fragments of the Sky,” was inspired by the cityscape of Hong Kong, Eva Cheng took six months to complete, the hand made cutting and sewing the fabric precisely was the most difficult part.

Casual & Jeans-Wear Group Winner: Angela Ng: “The Black Sheep”
An evocative take on the idea of the outcast, this collection shows the individuality and power of those who defy convention. The multiple-use outfits feature dark-coloured wool felting and loose, disproportionate cutting, which symbolises the burden of the outsider. The designer fuses unconventional design in a stunning display of creativity and craft.

Contemporary Day-Wear Group Winner: Mag Choy: “Inanimate Infection”
This collection takes a poignant look at the pressure of societal conventions. The knitwear is adorned with patterns woven from a variety of yarn, fine metal chains and beading, all of which point to the constraints of city life. The palette of greyish pink, blue and khaki depicts the outside world influences we face.

Party & Evening-Wear Group Winner: Zoe Li: “Jugendstil”
Inspired by Europe’s Art Nouveau movement, the designer takes the German interpretation of youthful spirit – Jugendstil – as the title of this collection. The organza-and-chiffon dresses flow in fancy and natural colours, with curving shapes created by pleating. Exuding sensuality, the collection pays homage to painter Gustav Klimit, whose work encapsulates the beauty of women.

Some of the winning designs was on display at Joyce Boutique (Admiralty shop).

Seminars
The fairs offer a full programme of seminars, ranging from trend forecasting to discussions of branding and garment production by international experts. Representatives of Paris-based Rue du Mail highlight the company’s brand success and global business horizons.

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.