KIT WAN STUDIOS, a multidisciplinary design and visual art studio led by Hong Kong-born creative director and visual artist Kit Wan, will headline the CENTRESTAGE ELITES runway show on 2 September 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show, which opens the CENTRESTAGE fair organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), will feature the studio's forthcoming collection blending sci-fi inspirations with mechanical aesthetics, blurring the boundaries between collectable and wearable fashion.
This year's CENTRESTAGE ELITES is acclaimed for merging manga and mythology with bespoke, highly detailed metalwork, multimedia installations and cinematic garment design. The studio's unique “abstract reality” approach spans everything from one-of-a-kind costume design to permanent museum exhibits. As a performative costume designer and scenographer navigating the global entertainment industry, Kit Wan treats sets and lighting as a collaborative canvas, seamlessly interweaving music, mood and entertainment elements. Designing “stage armour” for artists in Los Angeles at the Grammy Awards and Eurovision in the United Kingdom allows Hong Kong design to shine on top-tier global stages. Simultaneously, the studio remains deeply rooted in Cantopop, injecting vibrant vitality into Hong Kong's entertainment and performing arts industry.
The studio's collaborative roster of local superstars includes Aaron Kwok, Hins Cheung, MC Cheung, Miriam Yeung, Nicholas Tse and Panther Chan, while his overseas portfolio includes Alan Cumming, Warhol icon Cherry Vanilla, singer/songwriter Teddy Swims and countless Scandinavian pop stars. Headlining CENTRESTAGE ELITES marks a homecoming for the studio. Kit Wan stated, “It feels like 'THE' moment for my work to come from my clearest voice, from my clearest mind. I am grateful to my collaborators but with any partnership it is a shared vision. This collection is from my heart, my voice – so completely – and I am excited to share that with my hometown of Hong Kong.”
The artist first majored in knitwear design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University before extending his footprint to Amsterdam, after a short stint in London. He then relocated to Oslo, Norway, where he completed his MA in fashion design and started exploring the space between art and fashion. He is the first fashion designer to be honoured with the “Young Artist Award” by the Norwegian government. His creations have been enshrined in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Norway. In 2025, the studio was selected by Fashion Asia Hong Kong as the sole Hong Kong representative among its “2025 10 Asian Designers to Watch”.
The artist will lead a sharing session during CENTRESTAGE, offering insights from his creative journey and the work of the studio, alongside a showcase of their innovative designs. Marking its 11th edition in 2026, CENTRESTAGE continues to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s fashion hub and a gateway connecting global design talent. The fair will feature a curated selection of thematic zones and a series of fashion parades, complemented by industry seminars on sustainable fashion and the application of artificial intelligence in fashion design. Further details will be announced at a press conference on 20 August. Photos of KIT WAN STUDIO are available at https://bit.ly/3R834Of and photos of CENTRESTAGE 2025 at https://bit.ly/3T9gKZP. More information can be found on the HKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en.
