CENTRESTAGE 2026 Sets Attendance Record with Over 12,000 Buyers, Highlighting Hong Kong's Fashion Hub Status

The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier annual fashion event, concluded successfully today, attracting over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions—a new attendance record. Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the four-day fair also reported notable growth in buyers from Vietnam, Russia, the US, and Malaysia. The event, which was fully open to the public for free admission alongside the concurrent Salon de Time, recorded over 20,000 public attendances, underscoring Hong Kong's unique strengths as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange.

The fair brought together approximately 270 brands from 24 countries and regions, a record number, including first-time participants such as DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia. Top-tier international buyers, including representatives from the UK's Dover Street Market London and Selfridges, Italy's 10 Corso Como, and Korea's Musinsa, attended for sourcing and business matching. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, emphasized the fair's role in fostering cross-sector exchanges and creating new business opportunities, stating, 'More than a showcase of design creativity, CENTRESTAGE serves as a vital platform that helps brands enhance visibility, expand business opportunities, and reach international markets.'

Industry sentiment remained optimistic, with a survey of over 350 exhibitors and buyers revealing that 96% expect sales to remain steady or grow in the next 12 to 24 months. The survey also highlighted streetwear and cross-sector collaboration 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 fashion labels spearheaded by local celebrities and KOLs, and launched about 30 limited-edition products. Actress Rosita Kwok, founder of the brand Claro, noted, 'We attracted interest from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Japan, and Germany, laying a foundation for future market expansion.'

Cross-sector collaboration was also evident in collections like 'Quartet' by local designer Janko Lam's brand Classics Anew, created with ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung. Ronald Chan, founder of gothic silver jewellery brand Devil Claw, highlighted the value of pre-fair workshops, saying, 'The mentors provided highly valuable practical guidance... 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 engaged with new buyers from France and Taiwan.

Korea debuted as the 'Featured Partner' of the fair, 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 some brands had already secured deals with Hong Kong buyers. Antonio Shin, founder of a namesake Korean brand, successfully connected with buyers from multiple countries, while first-time exhibitor Asparagus attracted strong interest and expects initial orders of about US$6,000 to US$7,000.

The fair also drew praise from international attendees. Sophie Rose Davis-Evans, a buyer at Selfridges, said, 'I met with more than 10 emerging brands... and two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, stood out. We are negotiating a wholesale partnership.' Tifandy Okto, General Manager of Indonesia's Galeries Lafayette, expressed interest in Australian brand VICETA WANG and Chinese Mainland brand WANZZZ. Richie Chan, founder of Chengdu fashion store Triple Major, placed three orders on the spot and described his visit as 'highly rewarding.'

The fair featured seven themed zones, including the new Perfume zone, which attracted strong visitor interest with over 20 brands making their Hong Kong debut. Moon Li, Founder of Artis Cultural Association, praised the fair's media exposure and expected on-site retail sales to reach HK$100,000, hoping the zone could evolve into Hong Kong's flagship fragrance event. Over 40 events were held, including more than 30 fashion shows, a record high, with the opening show CENTRESTAGE ELITES featuring KIT WAN STUDIOS, and the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show presenting Spring/Summer 2027 collections by local labels. Other highlights included the Redress Design Award finale, won by Germany's Jon Liesenfeld, and the Sparkle Charity Foundation's young designer challenge.

The success of CENTRESTAGE reinforces Hong Kong's position as a dynamic fashion hub and a key player in the global fashion industry. With record participation and enthusiastic buyer engagement, the event has demonstrated its value as a superconnector for brands seeking to expand into Asian and international markets.