11 July 2014 – The 21st HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer, which concluded yesterday, attracted nearly 17,000 buyers from 71 countries and regions.
Buyers came mainly from the Chinese mainland, Korea, India and the United States. Individual markets in the Asia-Pacific recorded double-digit growth, including Australia (up 53 per cent), Korea (up 96 per cent), India (up 51 per cent), Indonesia (up 27 per cent), Malaysia (up 44 per cent) and Singapore (up 26 per cent), while buyers from traditional markets were up six per cent over last year.
"The economies of our traditional markets are recovering, and manufacturers should be looking to the Asia-Pacific region as well, where growth momentum is strong,” said Benjamin Chau, Acting Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). “With the rising popularity of etailers, Hong Kong companies should also consider expanding their small-order supply.”
The HKTDC organised 89 buying missions, representing over 5,000 buyers, to take part in the fair. Among them were well-known fashion brands, large chain stores and distributors. These included: MINKPINK from Australia, Dashang Group Co, Ltd and Hiking Group from the Chinese mainland, M6 Boutique from France, Milktee Clothing from Malaysia, the Kanematsu Textile Corporation from Japan and the Apparel Group from the United Arab Emirates.
New Design Talent
A number of student fashion shows were held alongside the FASHIONALLY COLLECTION #3, which promoted 11 designers from the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest. A meet-the-buyer session was held after the fashion show for the 11 designers.
The HKTDC this year collaborated with Hong Kong art house Stickyline. Together, they held a series of activities to encourage public support of Hong Kong’s fashion brands and creative culture. The activities included an art installation exhibition at PMQ and a FASHIONALLY Pop-Up Showcase, designed by Stickyline, for the new PMQ branch of Hong Kong Design Gallery. Stickyline’s two young paper craft artists, Mic Leong and Soilworm Lai, also hosted a party-hat-making workshop.
Small Order, Big Demand
The Small-Order Zone returned this year at the Expo Drive Entrance, featuring 130 showcases and racks, with minimum purchases ranging from five to 1,000 pieces. Narinder Mahajan, a buyer for the Indian website Snapdeal.com, which participated in the fair for the first time, said he found suitable suppliers willing to accept 100 pieces. Mr Mahajan will recommend these suppliers to his website’s 30,000 sellers.
Rajesh Sajnani, CEO of the UAE’s RVS Group, introduced the United Kingdom’s high-end womenswear brand, Fifth Season London, during Fashion Week, accepting orders as low as 10 pieces. The feedback from buyers was above his expectations. He received buyer enquiries from Italy, Canada, Russia and Spain.
Buying and Selling
Australian brand MINKPINK, part of the House of Quirky, took part in the fair for the first time. Leigh Susanne Hawkes, the company’s Creative Director, identified potential suppliers for several collections and said she expects to place orders soon.
Raymond Lui, Director of Hong Kong’s Kudos Knitting, which specialises in knitwear production, met with new buyers from Australia, Brazil and the Netherlands. Mr Lui, whose company has participated in Fashion Week for the past 10 years, said the fair was ideal for exploring new markets.
Fashion Week, which took place 7-10 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, welcomed some 1,250 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, showcasing the latest brand design, international fashion and fabrics and accessories.
Website: http://www.hktdc.com/hkfashionweekss#sthash.W1VXOFem.dpuf
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Corporate Communication Department
Joe Kainz Tel: (852) 2584 4216 Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org
-- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com
