Centrestage, asia’s premier fashion event opened in Hong Kong on September 6 organized by the HongKong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) featured more than 210 fashion brands from 22 countries and regions and about 40 fashion events, including a gala fashion show, Centrestage Elites. The event is laced with some 20 fashion shows, designer sharing sessions, an industry forum, trend forecast seminars and networking activities.

Centrestage debuted in last year as a new promotion and launch platform for international, especially Asian fashion brands and designs, reaffirming Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s fashion capital. Under the theme “Nouveau Playhouse,” this year’s Centrestage, which is one of the celebration activities of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, features three thematic zones: Glam, Allure and Metro.

Exhibiting fashion brands include those from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Australia, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Overseas brands include Barbara Di Davide- I Cashmere, CHENG PAI CHENG, Edward Achour, Glamorous, IVAN Pettersson, Keepsake, Lunnapada, N12H and Zero Design. Numerous local brands are also taking part in the show, including anagram, Angus Tsui, Harrison Wong, izzue and Yi-ming.

The HKTDC has invited experts from WGSN, Pantone and Fashion Snoops to forecast the coming year’s fashion and retail trends at the Fashion Summit (HK) 2017. The summit focuses on fashion sustainability and “Zero Impact.”

The HKTDC is also organizing 34 buying missions for the show, bringing buyers from more than 1,000 companies from 25 countries and regions, including Galeries Lafayette from France, Andreas Murkudis from Germany, Shinsegae from Korea, Isetan from Japan, select shops DONGLIANG and AnyShopStyle from the Chinese mainland and Breeze Centre from Taiwan, along with local retailers such as Lane Crawford, Harvey Nichols, D-mop, DFS, and Club 21.

Some 20 fashion shows are being organised during Centrestage, including Fashionally Collection #10, presented by online fashion hub Fashionally. The show spotlights 10 up-and-coming local fashion designers collaborating to showcase Hong Kong’s design prowess.

The “Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show” showcases the 2018 pre-spring and spring/summer collections of six local brands: Harrison Wong (designer: Harrison Wong), KENAXLEUNG (designer: Kenax Leung), Loom Loop (designer: Polly Ho), DORISKATH (designer: Doris Kath Chan), Maison Vermillion (designer: Dora Chu), and HOUSE OF V (designer: Vickie Au).

Another highlight is the finals of The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2017 (YDC). Over the years, the YDC has identified many outstanding designers for the local fashion industry and nurtured numerous Hong Kong designer brands. This year, 15 shortlisted young fashion designers are competing for the top three awards, the Best Footwear Design Award and the newly established New Talent Award. The VIP judge of the year is Mug, founder and designer of popular Japanese fashion brand G.V.G.V.

The event features the grand final show of the EcoChic Design Award 2017 staged by NGO Redress. Knitwear Symphony 2017 and the seventh Hong Kong Young Knitwear Designers’ Contest are other attractions of the gala event. More local design talent is to be be uncovered at The Hong Kong Footwear Design Competition, organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Footwear and co-organised by the HKTDC.

The four day (6-9 September) international fashion event is running at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.