Pearl of Asian fashion shines
Hong Kong Fashion Week autumn/winter 2007 and World Boutique 2007 - which took place from January 15 to 18 - posted record visitor numbers, according to event organiser the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC).
Fashion Week itself posted an overall visitor tally of 25,546, comprising 11,591 overseas and 13,955 Hong Kong visitors and signifying an overall rise of 8.37 per cent over the previous year. Meanwhile, high end fashion showcase World Boutique attracted 19,271 visitors - comprising 9,595 overseas and 9,676 Hong Kong visitors - an overall increase of 7.79 per cent over last year.
Attendance figures from Australia and the Pacific Islands - including New Zealand - for both Hong Kong Fashion Week and World Boutique were up on the previous year, with Hong Kong's growing profile as a centre of design excellence the main drawcard, said HKTDC senior exhibitions manager Anne Chick.
"Hong Kong's reputation as a fashion design centre is certainly growing, while visitors are always going to be attracted by the sourcing and manufacturing opportunities it represents," she said.
Exhibitors and buyers had also responded well to new features at the expo, including accessories forum SFurthermore, World Boutique, whose objective was to build international awareness of Hong Kong as a design resource, had developed into an impressive showcase for both local and Asian labels, largely because the rise of China and India as manufacturing competitors had boosted the necessity for Hong Kong to concentrate its efforts on a globally viable design and branding proposition.
Accordingly the week's fashion shows included standout collections from local labels including King Of Kowloon, Anniewho, Ika and Korean co-operative SCARF (Supreme Corea Artist Fashion).
As part of the drive to promote local design excellence in Hong Kong, the week's events culminated in the Hong Kong Young Designers Fashion contest, with Walter Kong's "Glory in Sorrow" collection clinching the Overall Winner prize.