Emerging local fashion designers have been getting a leg-up on the international stage, thanks to showcases organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council

As local labels like Anveglosa, Harrison Wong and Heaven Please+ show, there is a place and a taste for Hong Kong designers on the global stage, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is doing its bit to put them there.

The Fashion Hong Kong line-up returned to the runway for the third time at New York Fashion Week, this time with a trio of ambitious brands and their designers—Annette Chan of Anveglosa, Harrison Wong and his eponymous label, as well as Yi Chan and Lary Cheung of Heaven Please+.

The trio unveiled their latest creations at a group runway show to a glittering array of fashionistas and celebrities, and to fashion lovers from around the world via the HKTDC’s live streaming of the event on Facebook.

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Above Harrison Wong’s designs at the Fashion Hong Kong runway show during New York Fashion Week

The Heaven Please+ collection, inspired by Hong Kong writer Liu Yichang’s novel Wrong Number, fuses 1950s western style with Hong Kong high-fashion style. While Harrison Wong’s Gradations collection takes its cue from the vibrant abstract expressionist paintings of Mark Rothko, Anveglosa’s new women’s leatherwear collection, L’Opera, celebrates theatrical art.

As any young designer will attest, a strong and continuous presence at global fashion events is of huge importance to new brands striving for exposure, experience and, hopefully, heavy buyer interest. In London, Fashion Hong Kong’s lineup included Heaven Please+, the only local brand to appear at both the New York and London Fashion Weeks, House of V, Maison Vermillion, and Methodology.

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Above Anveglosa’s latest collection
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Above Maison Vermillion designer Dora Chu used patterns from Chinese paper art by Li Yun Xia in her collection

Together, the designers had the opportunity to showcase their creativity to British and international industry elites and style influencers. In addition to presenting their autumn-winter 2018 collections on the catwalk, the four brands had the opportunity to explore collaboration and partnership opportunities with industry representatives in a more intimate, interactive setting at a special fashion presentation and cocktail reception at London’s Somerset House. Also at the cocktail reception were displays featuring elements of architecture, vintage fashion, colour blocks, Chinese paper art and Western lacework.

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Above House of V’s designs at London Fashion Week

While the main aim of Fashion Hong Kong is to promote local young fashion design talent globally—and there’s no shortage of talent to be found among Hong Kong’s burgeoning independent design scene—it’s still anyone’s guess which label will join the next generation of global household names. What is certain is that with the HKTDC’s support and collaboration, this generation of designers is sure to produce another iconic brand such as Vivienne Tam.

Follow their Instagram @hktdcfashionhk for more information.

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