The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier fashion event organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), wrapped up on September 6, 2026, setting a new attendance record with over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions. The four-day fair saw notable growth in buyers from Vietnam, Russia, the US, and Malaysia, and for the first time, both CENTRESTAGE and the concurrent Salon de Time were open to the public for free, drawing over 20,000 public visitors. This surge in attendance underscores Hong Kong's unique strengths as Asia's fashion hub and an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, while fostering cross-sector exchange between fashion and lifestyle industries.
Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, highlighted the fair's success in attracting a record number of exhibitors and buyers. 'For many years, CENTRESTAGE has been committed to assisting fashion brands and designers in expanding into international markets. This year, the fair brought together some 270 brands from 24 countries and regions, including first-time participants like DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia,' she said. The fair also drew top-tier international buyers such as Dover Street Market London, Selfridges, 10 Corso Como, and Musinsa, reflecting the dynamic interactions and successful business matching that took place.
Industry sentiment remains optimistic, with a survey conducted by HKTDC revealing that 96% of respondents expect sales to remain steady or grow in the next 12 to 24 months. Streetwear and cross-sector collaboration emerged as key trends, with 73% agreeing that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become more prevalent. Responding to this, CENTRESTAGE introduced the new Hype² pavilion, featuring brands spearheaded by local celebrities and KOLs. Several brands launched limited-edition products, and actress Rosita Kwok, founder of Claro, noted the fair's role in strengthening her brand's positioning and attracting interest from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Japan, and Germany.
Cross-sector collaboration was also evident in collections like 'Quartet' by local designer Janko Lam's 'Classics Anew' with ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung. The fair provided on-the-ground support for local exhibitors, with pre-fair workshops offering valuable guidance. Ronald Chan, founder of gothic silver jewellery brand Devil Claw, said the workshop made him realize that 'international buyers look beyond design and price, and place even greater importance on a brand's operational capability and potential for long-term partnership.' His brand generated tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars in on-site retail sales and entered discussions with new buyers from France and Taiwan.
Korea debuted as the 'Featured Partner' of the fair, with a pavilion organized by KOTRA and others, presenting 12 renowned designer brands from Seoul. Wilfred Chung, Project Manager of KOTRA Hong Kong, praised the fair's business-matching environment, noting that some brands already reached deals with Hong Kong buyers. Antonio Shin, founder of a namesake Korean brand, successfully connected with department stores and specialty-store buyers from various countries. First-time exhibitor Asparagus, a Seoul-based avant-garde brand, drew strong interest and expects initial orders of about US$6,000 to US$7,000.
The fair also welcomed national pavilions from Austria and Australia, with Jennifer Feigll, Austrian Trade Commissioner, leading seven sustainable brands in the Circular Fashion zone. Marianne Perkovic, Executive Chair of the Australian Fashion Council, noted that buyer meetings increased from 120 to 180, with strong interest from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Indonesia, and Korea. International buyers expressed enthusiasm for discovering emerging labels, with Sophie Rose Davis-Evans of Selfridges highlighting two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, as potential wholesale partners.
Over 40 events were held, including a record-breaking 30 fashion shows, showcasing designers' latest collections. The opening show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, featured KIT WAN STUDIOS, while the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show presented collections by four local labels under the theme 'Hong Kong Dopamine.' The fair also hosted the Redress Design Award finale and the Sparkle Charity Foundation's Young Designer Challenge, reinforcing Hong Kong's commitment to nurturing talent and promoting sustainable fashion.
The success of CENTRESTAGE highlights its role as a vital platform for brands to enhance visibility and expand business opportunities, while reinforcing Hong Kong's position as Asia's fashion hub and a mega-event capital. As the fashion industry rapidly integrates with diverse creative fields, CENTRESTAGE continues to unlock greater commercial potential and foster cross-sector collaboration.
