The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier annual fashion event, concluded successfully today, setting a new attendance record with over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the four-day fair also welcomed more than 20,000 public visitors when combined with the concurrent Salon de Time event, both of which were free to the public this year. The record-breaking turnout underscores Hong Kong's unique strengths as Asia's fashion hub and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, noted the fair's growing international appeal: "For many years, CENTRESTAGE has been committed to assisting fashion brands and designers in expanding into international markets. Entering its 11th edition this year, the fair brought together some 270 brands from 24 countries and regions, setting a record high in the number of participating brands." Among the first-time participants were international labels such as DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia. The fair also attracted top-tier retail giants including the United Kingdom's Dover Street Market London and Selfridges, Italy's 10 Corso Como, and Korea's Musinsa, fostering dynamic exchanges between exhibitors and buyers.
A survey conducted by the HKTDC among over 350 exhibitors and buyers revealed optimistic market sentiment, with 96% expecting overall sales to remain steady or grow in the next 12 to 24 months. Notably, 73% agreed that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become increasingly prevalent, highlighting the market potential of integrating fashion with streetwear and intellectual properties. In response, CENTRESTAGE introduced the new Hype² pavilion, spotlighting labels spearheaded by local celebrities and KOLs. Actress Rosita Kwok, founder of the fashion brand Claro, said, "We joined the fair to strengthen the positioning of the new brand and to stay on top of market trends. During the event, we attracted interest from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Japan and Germany, laying a foundation for future market expansion."
Cross-sector collaborations also drew significant buyer attention. Local designer Janko Lam's brand "Classics Anew" launched its first collaboration collection "Quartet" with ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung at the fair. The event also strengthened on-the-ground support for local exhibitors through pre-fair workshops. Ronald Chan, founder of gothic silver jewellery brand Devil Claw, appreciated the practical guidance, noting that "international buyers look beyond design and price, and place even greater importance on a brand's operational capability and potential for long-term partnership." His brand generated tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars in on-site retail sales and entered discussions with new buyers from France and Taiwan.
Korea made its debut as the "Featured Partner" of the fair, with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and other organisations presenting 12 designer brands from Seoul and 10 from Gyeonggi Province. Wilfred Chung, Project Manager of KOTRA Hong Kong, praised the fair's business-matching environment, noting that "visitor traffic on the pavilion's opening day exceeded expectations, attracting more than 400 visits. Some brands have already reached deals with Hong Kong buyers to launch offline retail at a major shopping mall in Kai Tak." Korean designer Antonio Shin successfully connected with department stores and specialty-store buyers from the Chinese Mainland, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Thailand. First-time exhibitor Asparagus, a Seoul-based avant-garde brand, drew strong buyer interest, with founder Je Lee expecting initial orders of about US$6,000 to US$7,000.
The fair also welcomed national pavilions from Austria, which led a delegation of seven sustainable brands in the Circular Fashion zone. Jennifer Feigll, Austrian Trade Commissioner for Hong Kong and Macao, said, "The fair is an excellent starting point for entering Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the wider Asian market." Similarly, the Australian Fashion Council led a delegation that saw its buyer meetings increase from 120 to 180. Executive Chair Marianne Perkovic noted that leather brand West 14th has already secured partnerships with buyers from Korea and Japan.
International buyers expressed enthusiasm for discovering new labels. Sophie Rose Davis-Evans, menswear and streetwear buyer at Selfridges, said, "I met with more than 10 emerging brands during the fair, and two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, stood out in particular. We are negotiating a wholesale partnership." Tifandy Okto, General Manager of Indonesia's Galeries Lafayette, also overseeing sourcing for Sogo and Seibu, showed interest in Australia's VICETA WANG and Chinese Mainland brand WANZZZ.
The fair featured over 40 events, including more than 30 fashion shows, a record in its history. Highlights included the opening CENTRESTAGE ELITES show by KIT WAN STUDIOS, which debuted over 30 brand-new looks, and the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show presenting Spring/Summer 2027 collections by four local labels. The event also hosted the grand finale of the 16th Redress Design Award, with German designer Jon Liesenfeld winning First Prize.
The success of CENTRESTAGE 2026 reinforces Hong Kong's position as a leading fashion event destination and a superconnector for the global industry, facilitating cross-sector exchanges and creating new business opportunities for brands and designers worldwide.
