Fashion Fest to align with Centrestage trade event

The Hong Kong Fashion Fest will return for a third straight year from September 1 to 14, featuring eight flagship programmes under the theme "Rhythm of the Heart".

The event was first launched in 2024 following Chief Executive John Lee's proposal to position Hong Kong as a premier fashion design hub in Asia.

Unlike the previous two editions, which were held in November, the 2026 festival has been moved to September to align with Centrestage, the annual fashion trade event organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Drew Lai said combining the two events will create significant business opportunities for the local industry.

“Instead of just having very nice designs and showcasing all the talents, we also have things for the buyers to buy. It is more like we can combine the showcases with businesses,” she said.

“So I think this is a synergy that we really want to create for the fashion design and fashion business in Hong Kong.”

While the inaugural Fashion Fest in 2024 drew around 160,000 participants, Lai said she is confident there will be an even larger turnout this year.

The two-week event this time will kick off with a fashion and trunk show on September 1 and 2, featuring around 40 ensembles crafted by four renowned and emerging local and international couturiers.

Another highlight is an exhibition set to open to the public from September 3 to 13 at Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay.

Jointly curated by the Hong Kong Design Centre and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana – the organiser of Milan Fashion Week – the exhibition will showcase menswear pieces from ten Italian and local designers.

And the Vocational Training Council will set up pop-up fashion stores at six spots across Hong Kong.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Culture minister Rosanna Law described Hong Kong as the heart of the fashion design industry in Asia, where creativity and innovation meet.

The government will continue to work with the industry to help it shine on the international stage, she added.

For his part, the lawmaker representing the textiles and garment sectors and Hong Kong Fashion Council chairman Sunny Tan expressed hope that expanding the scale of this year’s festival would attract more potential buyers.

“It gives more reason for our international visitors to come and say, let me come to Hong Kong because not only can I place orders, check on the trade shows, but also there are so many other interesting events that I can go to,” he said.

“And I think that would give a lot more diversity and to showcase how Hong Kong truly is an international fashion hub.”

Edited by Aaron Tam ...