Ten Australian designers – including Gary Bigeni, Buluuy Mirrii and Van Brussel – are taking their brands to Hong Kong through a trade mission launched by the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and backed by Austrade.
The ten designer labels will join an AFC Pavilion hosted during Centrestage in Hong Kong, a three-day fashion trade fair. Called Global Gateways: Hong Kong 2026, the mission will connect the ten brands with international buyers, media, consumers and industry in a bid to open export pathways across Asia.
The seven other designers involved are Asiyam, Briar Will, MOS the Label, Niamh Galea, Permanent Vacation, Viceta Wang and West 14th.
Delivered by the AFC with support from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the 2026 program is funded through the Australian Government’s Trade Diversification Network, Accessing New Markets Initiative (ANMI).
This is the second time AFC has hosted Australian designers at Centrestage. Last year, the mission generated more than 115 buyer connections. This year’s program also runs alongside a recently announced Paris activation, with up to 15 designers set to showcase at Paris Fashion Week's Womenswear SS27 segment later this year.
As part of the program, the Australian designers will also be showcased at an Australian Fashion Council Designer Showcase and Reception, hosted by the Consul-General of Australia in Hong Kong, Gareth Williams, at the Australian Residence.
Australian designer Monika Branagan, who joined the first cohort last year, recently held an exclusive pop-up at Seibu Shibuya department store in Tokyo after making a connection with a Japanese fashion agency through Centrestage.
“The experience also opened my eyes to bigger opportunities that I would never have considered had I not been selected,” Branagan said.
“I’m so grateful to the AFC for providing this invaluable experience. I’m beyond excited to present my label in Tokyo. I’m interested in the intersection of art, fashion and costume, and there is such a strong culture of self-expression and creativity in Japanese fashion.”
AFC executive chair Marianne Perkovic said this is what trade diversification looks like in practice.
“[It’s about] creating the connections and opportunities that help Australian fashion businesses enter new markets and grow globally,” Perkovic said.
“From Australian Fashion Week to Global Gateways, we are building a pathway that showcases Australian talent at home and takes it to the world. Monika’s journey from Hong Kong to Tokyo shows what can happen when we open those doors.
Austrade’s GM of the Trade Diversification Taskforce, Jay Meek, said ANMI is designed to help Australian businesses win in competitive Asian markets.
“Backing the AFC and this cohort of designers is a smart investment in trade diversification, and we look forward to seeing the 2026 group build on that success at Centrestage in September.”