Hong Kong designers making strides from New York to London
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Seven local designers showcased their latest collections in New York and London last month, presenting their diverse design visions to major international media, buyers, local style influencers and fashion lovers.
Since 2015, Fashion Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has brought numerous local designers to the fashion circuit in major hubs in New York, London, Copenhagen, Tokyo and Shanghai, showcasing Hong Kong's unique design capability that blends creativity with commercial viability.
The latest events were held in New York and London last month, creating substantial media buzz and generating valuable business opportunities for participating designers and labels.
New York Fashion Week
Fall/Winter 2019 Runway
On February 8, three Hong Kong fashion labels presented their Fall/Winter 2019 collections at the Fashion Hong Kong runway show at Industria in New York City. Attended by over 500 buyers, journalists and social media influencers, this show drew a packed audience and was streamed live, allowing fashionistas around the world to catch the show instanty.
The three Hong Kong labels featured on the New York runway this year were ANVEGLOSA by Annette Chan, HEAVEN PLEASE+ by design duo Yi Chan and Lary Cheung, and 112 mountainyam by Mountain Yam. ANVEGLOSA’s women’s leatherwear collection Salute to Fashion celebrates the “good old days” of fashion design. ELIZABETH, WATCH THE STARS by HEAVEN PLEASE+ is inspired by the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I and French band Air's album Moon Safari in 1998. While 112 mountainyam’s Hide & Seek takes its cue from the wildlife in Africa.
New York’s fashionistas came out in full force to support the event, including Hong Kong fashion icon Daisy Dai, actresses Francesca Curran and Nicole Kang, and Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin. Elle, Marie Claire, Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) and Xinhua News were among some of the prominent media outlets covering the show.
After the show, industry players and media were treated to a mini fashion presentation in a more intimate setting at the Arlo SoHo hotel. Loren Nadres, Director of Economic Development, New York City Mayor’s Office, brought with her the city’s support.
On the business front, the Fashion Hong Kong Showroom is now open until March 31 at FTL Moda on the 7th Avenue, featuring the three designer labels as well as 10 other budding fashion accessory brands – BIG HORN and Ejj Jewellery, ANDREW KAYLA, ARTINI, Berayah, Blank Concept, FAVEbyKennyLi, Jade in Style, Jewcells, and NoBeing.
London Fashion Week
Autumn/Winter 2019 Presentation
Across the pond, four leading Hong Kong designer labels unveiled their 2019 Autumn/Winter collections at London Fashion Week on February 15 at The College, Old Central Saint Martins, showcasing Hong Kong’s fashion prowess in a city known for its open-mindedness and quirkier sense of style. The presentation and cocktail reception attracted over 850 buyers, media representatives and fashionistas.
Participating in London Fashion Week for the second time, Fashion Hong Kong was not only an on-schedule fashion presentation, it also fostered an exchange among fashion experts from the two cities. The show was attended by Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, organiser of London Fashion Week, fashion DJ Siobhan Bell, model Bee Beardsworth, and Izzy B Philips from rock band Black Honey. International fashion media including Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), VOGUE France, VOGUE Australia, 21st Century Business Herald, DAZED UK, and GRAZIA UK also reported on the event.
The four participating labels – DORISKATH by Doris Kath Chan, HOUSE OF V by Cynthia Mak, LOOP LOOP by Polly Ho and YEUNG CHIN by Yeung Chin – demonstrated Hong Kong’s cutting-edge designs and diverse talents, incorporating art installations, music, drama and performance art into the presentation. The event also celebrated one of the London Fashion Week’s “Positive Fashion” pillar initiatives – “Equality and Diversity” by embracing character models, such as silver hair, tattooed and masculine models.
Fashion Hong Kong collaborated with lifestyle brands such as creative platform StoryTeller and fashion illustrator Andrew Yeung to give the events even more buzz. Yeung created an exclusive illustration capturing the impact Hong Kong fashion made at London Fashion Week, while Hong Kong start-up ShirtStylist.com launched an exclusive series of Fashion Hong Kong shirts. Other collaborating creative units include Daycraft, Chocolat-ier and PERKS Production, DHL Express and Antalis Paper.
