Hong Kong's fashion scene takes center stage as CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier annual fashion event, officially kicked off today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Running through September 5, the four-day exhibition is open free to both industry buyers and the public, marking its 11th edition with a record-breaking convergence of some 270 international brands from 24 countries and regions.
This year's event, a flagship programme of the third edition of Hong Kong Fashion Fest, features over 40 captivating events, including more than 30 runway shows—an unprecedented lineup. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, emphasized the event's role in leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages as an international business hub and superconnector, enabling two-way collaboration and creating more business opportunities while allowing the public to experience the latest fashion trends.
A major highlight is the debut of the Hype2 pavilion, a dedicated zone spotlighting streetwear labels led by local celebrities and KOLs. Exhibitors include Rosita Kwok's Claro, Vincent Wong's OGIS, Kelvin Kwan's PICK AND MATCH, ROSEMA.ESE X Jaime Cheung, and Pakho Chau's XPX. During the fair, some 30 limited-edition products are launched, and the "Hype2 Runway Show" on September 4 will bring together over 10 streetwear brands with special celebrity guest appearances.
The grand opening fashion show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, features KIT WAN STUDIOS, led by Hong Kong-born creative director Kit Wan. The studio has designed "stage armour" for artists at the Grammy Awards and Eurovision, and tonight over 30 brand-new looks debut on the runway. The collection, "MUTANT // MYTHOLOGY," will be livestreamed across multiple platforms, and Kit Wan will engage in a sharing session with Dan Hastings, Editor of The Business of Fashion.
Korea joins as the "Featured Partner" with its largest-ever pavilion, organized with KOTRA and HISEOUL SHOWROOM, bringing 12 renowned Seoul designer brands and the Gyeonggi Fashion Creative Studio with 10 local brands. The pavilion will host a thematic fashion show, "SEOUListic: The Future is Sustainable," featuring former IZ*ONE member Lee Chae-yeon as a guest performer. Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia, and the UAE make their inaugural appearances, with Austria presenting a mini parade today.
The exhibition introduces a new Perfume zone, gathering over 20 fragrance brands from Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam making their Hong Kong retail debut, alongside local brand OCO. A Scent Station allows visitors to sample fragrances. Other zones include Accessories, Craftsmanship, Contemporary, Urban, Athleisure, and Circular Fashion, the latter featuring local brand JESSE LEE presenting 3D-printed garments from upcycled fabrics.
Record-breaking runway shows include the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show on September 3, inspired by "Hong Kong Dopamine," presenting collections from local brands 112 mountainyam, ANGUS TSUI, ARTY:ACTIVE, and Z I D I. FASHIONALLY will showcase young designers, and the Redress Design Award 2026 Grand Final and the "Create Outside the Box" Fashion Design Competition will take place.
The grand finale, the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC) 2026, will be held on September 5, with 10 shortlisted designers vying for four major awards. The public can vote online for the "My Favourite Collection" award for a chance to win HK$2,000 Lee Gardens e-gift certificates (voting link: YDC 2026 Vote).
The event also features interactive zones like the Fashion Sound Lab, SNAPIO Stand, and French Cultural Salon at FIGARO Café. CENTRESTAGE is held concurrently with the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE, offering a one-stop shopping experience. Attendees can participate in the CENTRESTAGE X Watch & Clock Lucky Draw.
For more information about CENTRESTAGE, visit CENTRESTAGE. Photos are available at https://bit.ly/3T87B48.
