A Milestone Celebration for Centrestage

Centrestage, the hidden gem of the fashion world, is celebrating its monumental 10th anniversary! This unique event blends a trade show with a fashion fair, kicking off the Autumn/Winter fashion week season in Asia in spectacular style.

Record-Breaking Attendance in 2025

The 2025 edition, held from September 3-6, proved to be an unprecedented success, gathering talent and visitors from all corners of the globe. Despite a timing clash with New York Fashion Week, the fair was declared a record-breaker in both scale and international representation by Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

With over 10,000 trade buyers from 91 countries in attendance—up from 8,500 in 2024 and 7,700 in 2023—this year's event showcased a significant growth. General public interest surged as well, with more than 19,000 visitors flocking to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Emerging Markets Drive Excitement

A survey during the event revealed that 38% of the 400 exhibitors and buyers identified emerging markets as the hottest opportunity, which explains the buzz surrounding the fair that featured over 260 brands from 25 different countries.

International Designers Shine

Among the stellar lineup were renowned international labels like Henrik Vibskov from Denmark and Speed Paris from Romania, as well as newcomers like the Australian brand AI—making its debut under the Australian Fashion Council banner. The fair also proudly showcased over 40 brands from Thailand.

The UK's Fashion Highlights

With the UK as a partner country, designers such as Saul Nash, Bianca Saunders, and Labrum showcased their talent before heading off to London Fashion Week. Ka Way Key, co-founded by Jarno Leppanen and local designer Key Chow, stole the spotlight with their Spring Summer ’26 collection, inspired by Chow's grandfather and featuring stunning floral crochet crafted by grandmothers in London.

A Hub for Networking and Inspiration

Leppanen expressed excitement about the event, noting a surge of international attention for their brand despite not being active on the show circuit since COVID-19. They plan to participate in Shanghai Fashion Week’s Autumn showroom later this month.

A Spectacle of Events and Talent

Over the four-day event, HKTDC organized more than 40 events and 30 runway shows, a new record. Highlights included a gala by famed Chinese designer Guo Pei, enlightening discussions with fashion visionary Charles Jeffrey from Loverboy, and a showcase of emerging talent through local platforms.

Discovering Asian Brands

Florian Müller, a long-time attendee who also runs a mental health initiative in fashion, praised the fair for offering invaluable access to diverse Asian brands that are typically hard to meet during regular ordering cycles. This year featured local gems like Jesse Lee and Kowloon City Boy, alongside brands from Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.

Challenging Times Bring New Opportunities

New retail owners like Jannis Thein from Neverlnd found the economic downturn has granted them flexibility and access to otherwise elusive brands. "Everything is conveniently in one space, which is a refreshing change from Paris Fashion Week," he said, spotlighting unique finds from Taiwan and South Korea.

Uplifting the Next Generation

The future of fashion was electrified with participation from the JCA-London Fashion Academy, where emerging talents presented innovative designs at the UK pavilion. This showcase focused on sustainability, inclusivity, and modular fashion, with at least one graduate securing a significant stockist.

Celebrating Sustainable Design

The Redress Design Award final also took center stage, with winners Carla Zhang and Hugo Dumas taking home the top honors, affirming the emphasis on sustainability within the industry.

Hong Kong: Asia's Fashion Capital

With the dust settling on an inspiring event, HKTDC’s Chong reaffirmed their commitment to elevate Hong Kong as Asia's fashion capital, aiming to be a gateway for global brands and a platform for local designers to shine on the world stage.