The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier fashion event, concluded successfully on September 6, 2026, with a record-breaking attendance of over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions. Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the four-day fair also attracted over 20,000 public visitors when combined with the concurrent Salon de Time event, marking a significant milestone in the event's history.
The record numbers reflect the growing importance of Hong Kong as a fashion hub and an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, noted the fair's role in assisting brands to expand internationally, with 270 brands from 24 countries and regions participating, a record high. Newcomers included renowned brands like DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia. The fair also attracted top-tier buyers from global retail giants such as Dover Street Market London, Selfridges, 10 Corso Como, and Musinsa.
An on-site survey conducted by HKTDC revealed optimistic industry sentiment, with 96% of respondents expecting sales to remain steady or grow in the next 12-24 months. Streetwear and cross-sector collaboration emerged as key trends, with 73% agreeing that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become more prevalent. In response, CENTRESTAGE introduced the new Hype² pavilion, showcasing fashion labels led by local celebrities and KOLs, and featured limited-edition products that attracted significant interest.
Cross-sector collaboration was a highlight, exemplified by local designer Janko Lam's 'Classics Anew' partnering with ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung to launch their first collaborative collection, 'Quartet'. The fair also provided practical support for local brands through workshops and mentoring, as highlighted by Ronald Chan of Devil Claw, who secured on-site retail sales and discussions with new buyers.
Korea debuted as the 'Featured Partner' with 12 designer brands, and the pavilion reported over 400 visits on the opening day. Antonio Shin, a Korean designer, successfully connected with buyers from multiple countries, while first-time exhibitor Asparagus expects initial orders of US$6,000-7,000. Other first-time participating countries included Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The fair also facilitated significant business deals. Jennifer Feigll of Advantage Austria led a national pavilion in the Circular Fashion zone, noting that brands had begun discussions with buyers. Marianne Perkovic of the Australian Fashion Council reported an increase in buyer meetings from 120 to 180, with strong interest from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Indonesia, and Korea. International buyers expressed enthusiasm for discovering new talent; Sophie Rose Davis-Evans from Selfridges highlighted two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, for potential wholesale partnerships.
The fair featured over 30 fashion shows and 40 events, including the CENTRESTAGE ELITES opening show by KIT WAN STUDIOS and the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show. The event underscored Hong Kong's vitality as a 'mega-event capital' and provided a platform for local designers to showcase their latest collections. The Redress Design Award finale also took place, with German designer Jon Liesenfeld winning First Prize.
The success of CENTRESTAGE reaffirms Hong Kong's position as a leading fashion hub, driving cross-sector collaboration and providing vital business opportunities for brands and designers worldwide. As the fashion industry rapidly integrates with creative fields, CENTRESTAGE continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation and market expansion.
