Top international fashion talent will be on hand for Asia’s largest fashion fair, the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, and HKTDC World Boutique, Hong Kong. Nearly 2,000 exhibitors from some 25 countries and regions will take part in the two events, 17-20 January, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter and World Boutique, Hong Kong is a grand occasion for the local fashion scene,” said Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, speaking today at a pre-event press conference. “This year, the fairs continue to receive great support from fashion designers and brands from around the world, solidifying Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s trendsetting hub.”

Fashion Week
Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, the second-largest event of its kind in the world, turns 42 this year. The fair will be divided into 11 theme zones, including an expanded Emporium de Mode to accommodate additional fashion collections. The World of Fashion Accessories will present a mix of accessories, including hats, shoes, handbags, gloves, costume jewellery and more.

Fashion Gallery, the fair’s largest theme zone, will feature collections of high quality and outstanding design from 275 exhibitors. Other specialised areas include Intimate Wear, Infant & Children’s Wear, Bridal & Evening Wear, Fabrics & Yarn, Sewing Supplies, Trade Services and Testing, and Certification & Inspection.

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

World Boutique
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. Highlights of this year’s World Boutique include the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza, which will be staged 17 January. The exclusive event welcomes four internationally celebrated fashion designers: Japan’s Keita Maruyama, Korea’s Doii Lee, the Chinese mainland’s Alex Wang and Hong Kong’s Barney Cheng.

Young Designers Contest
The fairs’ Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers Contest 2011, 18 January, will showcase a new generation of Hong Kong design talent. This year, Martine Sitbon, Creative Director of Rue du Mail, will be the VIP judge. She will join Chief Judge Vincent Fang, Chairman of the HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee, and Hong Kong designers Bonita Cheung and Martin Lee.

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

Seminars and Shows
The fairs will also 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 will highlight the company’s brand success and global business horizons.

Many designers and brands take the opportunity to present their own 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 will display a collection of outfits made of metallised fabric at the Trade Services section, while the Hong Kong Fur Federation will 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, will fly in from the United Kingdom to lead the hairstyling team.

Fashion designers Greenie Chau, Bonita Cheung, Ika, Sandy Johannsson, Hin Lee, Do Do Leung, Michelle Miao, Lucy Shih and Gary Tsang attended today’s press conference. Fashion brand Qinyi sent a representative.

source:Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)