The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier fashion event, concluded successfully in Hong Kong on September 6, 2026, attracting over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions—a new attendance record. The four-day fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), also saw significant growth in buyers from Vietnam, Russia, the US, and Malaysia. Public attendance for CENTRESTAGE and the concurrent Salon de Time exceeded 20,000, highlighting strong consumer interest and cross-sector exchange.
The fair brought together a record 270 brands from 24 countries and regions, including first-time participants such as DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of HKTDC, noted that the event serves as a vital platform for brands to enhance visibility and reach international markets. The presence of top-tier retailers like Dover Street Market London, Selfridges, 10 Corso Como, and Musinsa underscored the fair's business significance.
An on-site survey of over 350 exhibitors and buyers revealed optimistic sentiment, with 96% expecting steady or growing sales in the next 12 to 24 months. Fashion design was identified as the most popular product category by 58% of respondents. Streetwear and cross-sector collaboration emerged as key trends, with 73% agreeing that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become more prevalent. In response, CENTRESTAGE introduced the new Hype² pavilion, featuring fashion labels spearheaded by local celebrities and KOLs. Actress Rosita Kwok, founder of Claro, said the fair helped strengthen her new brand's positioning and attracted interest from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Japan, and Germany.
Cross-sector collaborations were also prominent, such as local designer Janko Lam's brand 'Classics Anew' partnering with ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung. The fair also provided practical support to local exhibitors through workshops and mentoring. Ronald Chan, founder of Devil Claw, noted that international buyers value operational capability and long-term partnership potential, and his brand generated significant on-site retail sales and new buyer discussions.
Korea debuted as the 'Featured Partner,' with a pavilion organized by KOTRA and HISEOUL SHOWROOM presenting 12 designer brands. Wilfred Chung of KOTRA Hong Kong praised the quality business-matching environment, noting that some brands had already secured deals with Hong Kong buyers. Korean designer Antonio Shin connected with buyers from multiple countries, while first-time exhibitor Asparagus expects initial orders of US$6,000–7,000. Other first-time participating countries included Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia, and the UAE. Austria's national pavilion in the Circular Fashion zone featured seven sustainable brands, and Jennifer Feigll, Austrian Trade Commissioner, highlighted the fair as an excellent entry point to Asia.
International buyers expressed strong interest in emerging brands. Sophie Rose Davis-Evans from Selfridges met with over 10 brands and singled out Hong Kong labels peces and MURFI LAU for wholesale partnerships. Tifandy Okto of Galeries Lafayette Indonesia showed interest in Australia's VICETA WANG and Chinese Mainland's WANZZZ. Richie Chan of Chengdu's Triple Major placed three orders on the spot, including Danish brand Henrik Vibskov.
The fair featured seven themed zones, including a new Perfume zone with over 20 brands making their Hong Kong debut. Moon Li, Founder of Artis Cultural Association, praised the zone's visibility and expected on-site retail sales to reach HK$100,000. Over 40 events, including more than 30 fashion shows—a record—took place, showcasing collections from designers like KIT WAN STUDIOS and local labels under the 'Hong Kong Dopamine' theme. The Redress Design Award finale was also held, with Germany's Jon Liesenfeld winning First Prize.
The record attendance and positive business outcomes underscore CENTRESTAGE's role in reinforcing Hong Kong's status as Asia's fashion hub and an East-meets-West center for cultural exchange. For more information, visit the CENTRESTAGE website at https://www.hktdc.com/event/centrestage/en.
