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The new fashion initiative aims to put Hong Kong’s fashion industry on the international map
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
New groundbreaking initiative Fashion Asia 2016 launches today in Hong Kong. The inaugural event, integrated into the Business of Design Week 2016 (BODW) launched by HKSAR Government last year, will promote Hong Kong’s fashion and design industry on an international platform.
Working with the Hong Kong Design Centre, the programme is split into two sections: an exhibition of 10 Asian Designers to Watch, and a two-day forum, Fashion Challenges.
‘Nowadays fashion brand creation is not only about the design or the product itself. Innovative design, a creative mindset and a range of knowledge in fashion development from sourcing and design to business acumen and collaborations are genuinely needed in charting the future of Hong Kong fashion industry,’ says Dr. Edmund Lee, Executive Director of Hong Kong Design Centre. ‘Fashion Asia endeavors to serve as a strong pillar to nurture talents in the region and provides opportunities for strong networking and knowledge sharing, with the ultimate goal of building Hong Kong as the Asian fashion hub.’
The forum addresses some of these problems in the fashion industry, discussing topical issues like concepts of retail (Commerce Re-Shaped, November 28th), and how social media has affected branding in the current fashion climate (Brand, Image & Media, November 29th). Forum guests include Andrew Keith, the president of Lane Crawford and Joyce, fashion blogger Bryanboy, Canadian fashion designer Jason Wu, Burak Cakmak, the dean of Parson’s fashion school, and Christina Dean, founder and CEO of Redress, among other fashion and industry experts.
The exhibition at Police Married Quarters (PMQ) features talented designers from the Asia region, including KYE from South Korea, Japanese brand Facetasm, and Hong Kong designers Ground Zero and Minki. Additional pop-ups and a Hong Kong showroom also focus on showcasing the work of local designers, an excellent way to check out Hong Kong’s own fashion talent. Check out the Asian designers you need to know below, and don’t miss out on the exclusive exhibition, open until December 4th.
Jourden
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
Winner of Vogue Italia’s Who is on Next 2015, Hong Kong designer Anais Mak is creating a new concept in womenswear, and exploring other artistic avenues with Louis Vuitton and Hong Kong Tatler's Uncharted Territories creative collaboration project.
Ground Zero
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
Hong Kong brothers Eri and Philip Chu have been revolutionising fashion with their creative contemporary brand.
Minki
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
Hailing from Hong Kong, Minki Cheng uses unusual fabrics and materials for his line of womenswear.
BMUET(TE)
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
From Seoul to London, the design duo Byungmun Seo and Jina Um play with experimental and tech-trends for their innovative designs.
KYE
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
South Korean designer Kathleen Kye designs high-end street wear for the urban woman using playful and bold colours and prints.
Edmund Ooi
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
Malaysian-born Edmund Ooi was inspired by his mother's tailoring skills, and pursued his interests in Antwerp, Belgium.
Angel Chen
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
Angel Chen worked with Marchesa and Vera Wang before starting her own unisex label, often described as 'Chinese punk'.
Andrea Jiapei Li
Photo courtesy of H&M
Parson's graduate Beijing-born Jiapei Li is now based in New York. The stunning silhouettes she uses to create a distinct look made her a finalist in the H&M Design Award 2015.
Xu Zhi
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
Xu Zhi Chen focuses on exceptional quality in his simple but detailed designs.
Facetasm
Photo courtesy of Fashion Asia 2016
Tokyo designer Hiromichi Ochiai has had work appearing on the runways since 2012, but the unveiling of his bold Spring/Summer 2017 collection firmly put him on the fashion map.
