The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier annual fashion event, concluded successfully on September 6, 2026, after a four-day run that attracted over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions—a new attendance record. The event, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, also saw significant growth in buyers from Vietnam, Russia, the United States, and Malaysia. This year, CENTRESTAGE and its concurrent event Salon de Time were fully open to the public for free admission, with over 20,000 public visitors recorded across both fairs. The strong turnout underscores Hong Kong's role as a fashion hub and an East-meets-West center for cultural exchange.
Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, highlighted the fair's expanded international reach: "Entering its 11th edition, the fair brought together some 270 brands from 24 countries and regions, a record high. This includes several internationally renowned design brands participating in Hong Kong for the first time, such as DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia." The fair also attracted top-tier buyers from global retail giants like the United Kingdom's Dover Street Market London and Selfridges, Italy's 10 Corso Como, and Korea's Musinsa.
A survey conducted by HKTDC among over 350 exhibitors and buyers revealed optimistic market sentiment, with 96% expecting sales to remain steady or grow over the next 12 to 24 months. Notably, 73% agreed that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become increasingly prevalent, highlighting the market potential of integrating fashion with streetwear and intellectual properties. In response, CENTRESTAGE introduced the new Hype² pavilion to spotlight fashion labels led by local celebrities and KOLs. Brands launched about 30 limited-edition products, and celebrities interacted with fans, generating buzz.
Cross-sector collaboration was a key theme. Local designer Janko Lam's brand Classics Anew showcased a collection inspired by ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung, while actress Rosita Kwok's new brand Claro attracted interest from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Japan, and Germany. Ronald Chan, founder of gothic silver jewellery brand Devil Claw, praised the pre-fair workshop for providing practical guidance on appealing to international buyers, noting that 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 made its debut as the "Featured Partner," with 12 designer brands from Seoul and 10 from Gyeonggi Province. Wilfred Chung, Project Manager of KOTRA Hong Kong, commended the fair's business-matching environment, noting that the Korean pavilion attracted over 400 visits on opening day, with some brands already securing deals with Hong Kong buyers. Antonio Shin, founder of a namesake Korean brand, connected with department stores and specialty buyers from multiple countries, while first-time exhibitor Asparagus, an avant-garde Seoul-based brand, drew strong interest and expects initial orders of about US$6,000 to US$7,000.
Other first-time participants included pavilions from Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates. Jennifer Feigll, Austrian Trade Commissioner, led a national pavilion in the Circular Fashion zone, presenting seven sustainable brands. She said, "The fair is an excellent starting point for entering Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the wider Asian market." 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. Leather brand West 14th secured partnerships with buyers from Korea and Japan.
International buyers expressed enthusiasm. Sophie Rose Davis-Evans, menswear and streetwear buyer at Selfridges, said, "I met with more than 10 emerging brands, and two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, stood out." Tifandy Okto, General Manager of Indonesia's Galeries Lafayette, expressed interest in Australia's VICETA WANG and Chinese Mainland brand WANZZZ. Richie Chan, founder of Chengdu fashion store Triple Major, placed orders on the spot for brands like Henrik Vibskov and Collector Project, and connected with Austrian fabric supplier Lenzing.
The fair featured seven themed zones, including the new Perfume zone, which attracted more than 20 fragrance brands making their Hong Kong debut. Moon Li, Founder of Artis Cultural Association, praised the zone's visibility, expecting on-site retail sales to reach HK$100,000. She hopes the Perfume zone can evolve into Hong Kong's flagship fragrance event.
Over 40 events were held, including more than 30 fashion shows—a record high. The opening show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, featured KIT WAN STUDIOS, and the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show presented collections by local labels under the theme "Hong Kong Dopamine." Additionally, the Redress Design Award finale took place, with Jon Liesenfeld from Germany winning First Prize. The fair's success highlights the rising demand for cross-sector collaborations and sustainable fashion, positioning Hong Kong as a vital gateway for global fashion business.
