The two fairs have organised 140 buying missions from 70 countries and regions, representing 5,274 buyers from 4,039 companies.
Fashion Week features a new group pavilion from Bangladesh, together with pavilions from the Chinese mainland, India, Macau and Taiwan. The Chinese mainland’s pavilion is the largest ever at Fashion Week for Spring/Summer, with a record 483 mainland companies participating. They include more than 100 enterprises from the port city of Ningbo, a major commercial hub and one of the mainland’s largest garment production centres. The cities of Wenzhou , Jiaxiang and Hangzhou are also very well represented in the pavilion.
Fashion Week continues to evolve, with two new zones, Intimate Wear and Brand Name Gallery. Intimate Wear captures the latest looks in lingerie and night-wear, while Brand Name Gallery showcases up-and-coming brand names, including Lebanon’s Beside Couture and Indonesian-based Italian designer Espen Salberg. Other zones include Infant and Children’s Wear, Bridal and Evening Wear, Fabrics and Yarn, Fashion Gallery, Sewing Supplies, World of Fashion Accessories and International Fashion Designers’ Showcase, which features more than 100 showcases from cutting-edge designers.
Other Fashion Week highlights include the Cross Vision, New Mission show, which takes place today and again 8 July. The special event features a lifestyle exhibition and two fashion shows, starring past winners and finalists of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest organised by the HKTDC. A variety of seminars and fashion parades are also taking place at the fair.
Running parallel to Fashion Week is the HKTDC Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware and Toys. The fair is a key industry occasion to source for the year-end festive season and a mid-year opportunity to find quality products and tap into new markets.
Last year, the event attracted nearly 20,000 buyers from 83 countries and regions. This year, about 450 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions are taking part, including newcomers from Denmark, France, Italy and Pakistan. The Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association, Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan also feature group pavilions.
The 2009 Summer Sourcing show is organised into 11 theme zones. New this year is Designers’ Corner. Reflecting a need for design services, it offers international buyers the opportunity to explore new design concepts from professionals.
The popular Treasure Island premium zone, featuring branded and designer collections, returns. Other established zones include Gifts Ideas, Fun & Play, Home Living, Home Tech, Advertising Premium, Style & Décor, Dining and Cooking, Costume Jewellery and Ladies’ World.
During the four-day fair, a variety of product demonstrations have been organised to bring exhibitors and buyers together, while a series of seminars and networking activities unveil the latest industry trends and market opportunities.
