Overwhelming Response to Hong Kong Fashion and Accessories Brands
20 October 2016 – Supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), three leading Hong Kong fashion designers participated in this week’s celebrated Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO 2017 Spring/ Summer, the largest fashion event in Japan. The Fashion Hong Kong Group Show attracted a full-house attendance including buyers, media and fashionistas from Japan. Tokyo Fashion Week is one of the international fashion events throughout the year where the HKTDC organises Hong Kong designers to participate.
The Fashion Hong Kong Group Show (17 October) took the stage on the first night of Tokyo Fashion Week, grabbing the attention of fashionistas and industry players alike. The show received overwhelming support from both the local and international fashion communities, highlights and photos uploaded by show attendees and media went viral on various social media channels. Fashionsnap.com, the top online fashion platform in Japan also ran a live stream of the show, allowing fashion lovers from all over the world to share the excitement beyond the show venue.
The participating brands were Chailie Ho’s eponymous label and LOOM LOOP by Polly Ho, both of which featured at the event last year, as well as first-time participant HOUSE OF V by Vickie Au. The designers aim to enter the Japanese fashion market and develop their business there. Many of the show attendees and media commented that the show demonstrated the versatility of Hong Kong fashion designs through different styles and the use of a variety of materials.
Apart from staging the Fashion Hong Kong Group Show, a Fashion Hong Kong Gallery Pop-up Showroom was also set up (17-20 October) to facilitate networking and business opportunities. A total 27 Hong Kong designer brands were displayed in the gallery, including collections presented on the runway and other fashion accessories. 400 buyers, media, bloggers and fashion lovers visited the gallery during the first three days. The gallery format included elements of fashion, art and tastes, providing another occasion for in-depth exchange and networking. Participating accessories brands included celebrity Luisa Leitao’s eponymous eyewear brand, Wingki Kwok Illustration and other wearable works of art such as handbag labels MASE, T A T, and handcraft accessories brand MIDOTI. Brands that are starting to establish their sales network in Japan, such as footwear label Franco Y. and socks label Fool’s Day were also showcased at Fashion Hong Kong Gallery. Furthermore, K11 collaborated with Fashion Hong Kong for the first time, introducing various brands with artistic designs to the gallery, including SON OF A KING, Method Life & Style, THE DOT, MATTER MATTERS and 1234.93K. Visitors were thrilled by Hong Kong designs, with some choosing to try them on and make on-site purchases.
The Fashion Hong Kong events are backed by a variety of Hong Kong companies. Canon Hongkong, Polytrade Paper, Chocolat-ier HK and Wingki Kwok Illustration lent support to activities involving photography, printing paper, chocolate and illustrations respectively.
The HKTDC assists Hong Kong industries such as the fashion industry by creating marketing opportunities. In addition to Tokyo Fashion Week, the HKTDC will join hands with designers to explore other fashion markets, such as taking part at Copenhagen Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week, as the next overseas stops. In Hong Kong, the HKTDC’s Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter will take place in January 2017. Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/ Summer will be held in July 2017 and CENTRESTAGE will be held in September (tentative) next year.
About the HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. 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 and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.