Asia’s Fashion Highlight CENTRESTAGE: Two Weeks to Go

23 August 2018 – CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s premier fashion event, is returning in just two weeks’ time for its third edition running from 5-8 Sept at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the show offers an ideal platform for fashion brands and designers to gain local and international exposure, having rapidly gained momentum since its 2016 inception and continuing to solidify Hong Kong’s position as a fashion hub in Asia.

“We are excited that CENTRESTAGE can offer local and overseas designers a platform to grow their brands. It provides brands with a unique opportunity to engage with global buyers and fashionistas in the fashion hub of Asia,” said HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau at today’s media preview of the event. He noted that this year’s CENTRESTAGE is eagerly anticipated, given the growing number of participating international fashion brands.

Record Number of Brands
CENTRESTAGE 2018 promises to be the largest edition ever, with a record number of some 230 fashion brands from 22 countries and regions participating. Brands and designer labels from Austria, Canada, Germany, Poland and Switzerland will participate at CENTRESTAGE for the first time.

This year’s event will centre on the theme of “TOMORROW LAB”. It will feature three thematic zones: ALLURE – representing craftsmanship, refinement and elegance; ICONIC – displaying contemporary, chic and avant-garde designs; and METRO – showcasing casual, youthful expressions of urban life.

CENTRESTAGE 2018 will also present about 40 not-to-be-missed events over its four-day run, including more than 20 fashion shows. Brands and designers will have the opportunity to connect with buyers, media and fashion professionals during these activities.

Stage for World-famous Designers and Young Local Talents
Three internationally celebrated Asian fashion design units will present their latest 2019 Spring/Summer collections at the opening gala show CENTRESTAGE ELITES: Japanese avant-garde streetwear label FACETASM by Hiromichi Ochiai, Hong Kong ready-to-wear womenswear label IDISM by design duo Cyrus Wong and Julio Ng, and Chinese luxury womenswear label Ms MIN by Min Liu.   

More than 20 fashion shows presenting the latest collections by exhibiting brands will be held during the four-day show. The “Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show”, following CENTRESTAGE ELITES on 5 Sept evening, will feature eight Hong Kong designer labels that have previously participated in international fashion weeks, such as New York, London, Copenhagen and Tokyo. These eight local brands are ANVEGLOSA, DORISKATH, HARRISON WONG, HOUSE OF V, LOOM LOOP, Maison Vermillion, MEIKING NG and METHODOLOGY.

Also on the first day, online fashion hub FASHIONALLY.com will feature its FASHIONALLY Collection #12 fashion show, where 10 rising local fashion designers will collaborate to highlight Hong Kong’s design prowess. Moreover, the FASHIONALLY Presentation will spotlight three budding Hong Kong labels, TAK LEE, REDEMPTIVE, and YLYstudio. Each of them will stage an unconventional hybrid presentation combining a fashion show and theatrical performance for their 2019 Spring/Summer collection.

Another highlight of this year’s CENTRESTAGE will be the finals of The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2018 (YDC). Since 1977, YDC has nurtured an ecosystem of emerging fashion design talent in Hong Kong. This year, 16 shortlisted candidates will compete for five awards including the New Talent Award and Best Footwear Design Award. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 8 Sept. The VIP judge of YDC 2018 Martine Rose, an industry titan and London-based international designer, will share her insightful critiques with the finalists.

Furthermore, Redress, a non-government organisation promoting environmental fashion, will present the Redress Design Award, the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition, on 6 Sept. The Knitwear Innovation and Design Society will present the Knitwear Symphony 2018 & the 8^th Hong Kong Knitwear Designers’ Contest on 7 Sept to promote Hong Kong’s knitwear design and wool manufacturing capabilities. On the same day, renowned local designer Dorian Ho will stage a fashion show to unveil the latest collection of his namesake label.

Fashion Experts to Explore Trends and Share Industry Insights
A star-studded line-up of international style masters and fashion experts will share their perspectives on industry trends and the future of fashion during the Meet the Visionaries Series and Trend Talk Series of seminars. The first Meet the Visionaries Series seminar on 6 Sept will address the theme “In Conversation with the Asian Creative Forces Shaping the International Fashion Scene”, featuring representatives of CENTRESTAGE ELITES design units. On 7 Sept, at another seminar of the series, internationally acclaimed fashion designer Martine Rose will share insights and anecdotes from her career. The Trend Talk Series will feature prominent industry experts including Matthew Lovett, Director of Retail at Omnilytics; Anupreet Bhui, Senior Editor of Global Street Style at WGSN and Jorge Martin, Head of Fashion Research at Euromonitor International.

The Fashion Summit, the first large-scale summit in Asia on sustainability in fashion, will be held from 6-7 Sept under the theme “Circular Economy”. A panel comprising leading academics, key industry players, NGOs, media, decision makers and leaders from various disciplines and across geographical boundaries will discuss sustainability solutions for the fashion industry.

Hong Kong in Fashion: 90+ Not-to-be-missed Events over Six Weeks
In collaboration with over 100 partners, including fashion boutiques, fashion design institutes, restaurants and hotels, Hong Kong in Fashion features more than 90 engaging fashion events beyond the CENTRESTAGE fairground, including exhibitions, workshops, fashion parades and dance performances, as well as promotions featuring themed afternoon tea sets and giveaways. Running from 15 Aug to 30 Sept, the diverse range of activities aims to garner wider attention and generate “fashion heat” citywide. On 26 Aug, singer Det Dik will join the “Fashion in Town” flash mob along with a group of dancers at Fashion Walk in Paterson Street, Causeway Bay. Other highlighted activities include “Mira Mira Funk it up” fashion dance performances at Mira Place and The Mira Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui (25 Aug), the CENTRESTAGE Fashion Afternoon Tea Set promotion at The Mira Hong Kong hotel (25 Aug-30 Sept), the “Fashion Experience: Fashiongram in Town” photo booth in Haiphong Road in Tsim Sha Tsui (25 Aug) and Paterson Street in Causeway Bay (26 Aug), the HKTDC X HKDI FASHION-Lution Exhibition at Gateway Arcade in Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui (Aug 27-2 Sept) featuring iconic outfits from Christian Dior and Issey Miyake, the Fashion Avenue Fest in Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai (1-2 Sept), and the Hong Kong in Fashion Fiesta at D2 Place in Cheung Sha Wan (1-2 Sept).

For more highlighted event details, please refer to the table below:

CENTRESTAGE website: http://centrestage.com.hk
CENTRESTAGE activity schedule: http://centrestage.com.hk/en/event/schedule.php
Hong Kong in Fashion activity schedule:   http://centrestage.com.hk/en/event/hkinfashion/index.php
The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest webpage: http://www.fashionally.com

Media Enquiries
For more information or to request interviews, please contact:

Sinclair on (852) 2915 1234

Nikki McLucas         | nikki@sinclaircomms.com                    | (852) 6895 0534
Shanti Sadhwani     | shanti@sinclaircomms.com                  | (852) 6386 4904
Wing Ng                 | wing@sinclaircomms.com                    | (852) 6106 8605
Kelly Chan              | kelly@sinclaircomms.com                    | (852) 6825 4496

HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department
Sam Ho        Tel: (852) 2584 4569         Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org
Selina Fan    Tel: (852) 2584 4298         Email: selina.mi.fan@hktdc.org

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

About the 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 50 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 more than 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 business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.