Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE 2018 FASHIONALLY Brand Collections, China

CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s premier fashion event, the four-day extravaganza hosts a record-breaking 230 brands from 22 countries and regions and presents more than 20 fashion shows, including FASHIONALLY Collection #12 and FASHION HONG KONG RUNWAY SHOW held on 5 Sept, as well as FASHIONALLY Presentations, which showcased the latest collections of a number of Hong Kong design labels.

Asia’s premier fashion event, CENTRESTAGE is the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) signature international fashion fair. This year’s event feature more than 200 international brands over multiple catwalks, engaging fashion forums with industry professionals, insightful talks by esteemed guests, and more.

Since its inception in 2012, FASHIONALLY has been presenting FASHIONALLY Collection shows at Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer and CENTRESTAGE each year to showcase the latest collections from emerging Hong Kong talent. FASHIONALLY Collection #12 feature 10 up- and-coming local designers who exemplify Hong Kong’s excellence in creativity and fashion design.

FASHIONALLY Presentation, an unconventional hybrid of fashion show and theatrical play, debuted at Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2018. This edition spotlight three budding Hong Kong labels – Tak Lee, REDEMPTIVE, and YLYstudio – each of which is given complete creative freedom to decorate the stage and direct the presentation around the unique set. Their presentations unveil the designers’ latest SS19 collections while offering a rare glimpse into their creative journeys. These labels are participating in a FASHIONALLY show for the first time.

With a mission to promote Hong Kong’s young designers, online fashion hub FASHIONALLY present FASHIONALLY Collection #12 and FASHIONALLY Presentation shows at CENTRESTAGE 2018, featuring spring/summer 2019 (SS19) collections from 13 local designer labels.

Participating brands include 112mountainyam (designer: Mountain Yam), Blind by JW (designers: Walter Kong and Jessica Lau), CAR | 2IE (designer: Carrie Kwok), DEMO. (designer: Derek Chan), FromClothingOf (designer: Shirley Wong), KEVIN HO (designer: Kevin Ho), LAPEEWEE (designer: Yannes Wong), NECRO POON (designer: Necro Poon), phenotypesetter (designer: Jane Ng) and YEUNG CHIN (designer: Yeung Chin).

FASHIONALLY has also invited winners of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC) 2017 to display their latest works at the fair, including a limited-edition capsule collection by Arto Wong available at JOYCE Pacific Place, Sonic Lam’s special wool outfit created in collaboration with The Woolmark Company, and the ete! x YDC Best Footwear Design Award Capsule Collection “I Go to School by Bus” designed by Jason Lee and sponsored by i.t apparels Ltd.

Brand Collections
Three FASHIONALLY Presentations were held during CENTRESTAGE to offer guests first look at the latest collections by three up-and-coming designer labels, and their full-fledged visions.

Rather than a traditional runway, the presentations took place on a set, giving the designers the freedom to create a story that best served their collections. Guests were treated to an intimate look at the designs, enabling them to take in the choice of fabrics and workmanship at close range.

Tak Lee “Season I” : A showcase of deconstruction
Tak Lee believes in the connection between form and construction and explores innovative sewing and craft techniques through his eponymous label. Using mainly natural fibres, his first collection “Season I” is an expression of clothing as an artistic embodiment of human sensation and history.

Inspired by an architect’s work on war-torn buildings, he uses draping and deconstruction to create unusual items with radical shapes. The neutral colour palette reflects the use of organic dyes such as teas and herbs.

Against a simple set that alluded to abandoned architecture, Lee presented a collection that brimming with conceptual flair and technique. Each item is meticulously cut to defy expectation, with numerous mix and match possibilities.

REDEMPTIVE by Wilson Choi: Socially conscious rebels
REDEMPTIVE, a new menswear label by Wilson Choi making its debut at FASHIONALLY, carries the DNA of a rebellious younger generation. Choi sees fashion as a way of thinking and uses his design to reflect on social issues he cares about.

Titled “The Stolen Soul”, REDEMPTIVE’s SS 2019 collection is inspired by the movie “Ondskan”, which tells a harrowing story of bullying and loneliness in a Swedish private school in the 1950s.

The presentation was set in a ransacked locker room, the disarray and bruised faces of the models telling a story of restlessness and rebellion. It was a versatile first collection that combines preppiness conveyed by classic stripes and checks, and outerwear that highlights the designer’s interest in high-tech, functional fabrics.

YLYstudio “Project B”: When baroque meets embroidery
Launched by Lilian Tsang and Matt Hui in 2017, YLYstudio gives the tradition crafts of knitwear and embroidery a modern facelift and new place in contemporary fashion.

The presentation featured the label’s second collection, Project B, which utilises French embroidery with metallic sequins to form distinctive shapes inspired by Baroque curves, while sheer tunics, jackets and skirts create rich layering. The candy-coloured palette is juxtaposed with metallic details and loose-fitting menswear styling to offer an interesting take on boyish girliness.

Models posing and taking selfies on the transparent sofa by the ball pond made for some interesting and delightful visuals.

The presentation illustrated that the young label is on the right track: keeping the traditions of embroidery, hand knitting and craftsmanship alive, but always with a contemporary point of view.

Designers’ Collection
Ten of Hong Kong’s emerging designers came together to present their Spring/Summer 2019 collections at the FASHIONALLY show. They proposed a multitude of looks for next season ranging from avant-garde and sporty to feminine and sexy, all the while injecting a fresh spin on perennial summer trends including florals, denim and transparency.

Two of the strongest collections in the bunch came from London College of Fashion graduate Kevin Ho and former YDC winner Necro Poon. KEVIN HO’s pared down collection included tailored blazers, waistcoats and trousers, which were accented by soft ruffles, folds of fabric or asymmetric hemlines. A stark white cocktail dress became a statement piece with its colourful rose embellishments.

In contrast, NECRO POON experimented with a more casual sporty look that centred around streetwear favourites such as sweatshirts – they were emblazoned with Roy Lichtenstein-style prints – and lightly-coloured denim. Instead of the typical cropped denim jacket he offered a much cooler duster-style coat with frayed edges and a risqué floor-length shirt dress with thigh-high slits up the sides.

Prints were also a running theme. 112 mountainyam designer Mountain Yam contrasted a stark barbed wire print with a colourful graphic design that depicted birds and other motifs inspired by the natural world. The final look consisted of a skirt and T-shirt with the word “dream,” both trimmed in rainbow feathers.

Blind by JW designers Walter Kong and Jessica Lau said that their prints were inspired by popular icons found in local culture. On the catwalk they looked faded or textured, adding an artistic touch to the collection. The printed halter tops and off the shoulder dress ticked all the right boxes, although at times the proportions seemed overwhelming.

On the topic of dresses – there was plenty to choose from next season. CAR|2IE designer Carrie Kwok’s layered frocks came in shades of pink and purple, but looked complicated to wear. The oversized sheer nude dress with oversized ruffled sleeves was more appealing. Underneath the model wore a sexy nude slip dress for a cool yet confident look.

With her background in couture, one would presume that Yannes Wong of Lapeewee would go all out with her eveningwear. Her vision of formalwear for women, however, was contemporary. A little black dress was updated with a panel of pleated navy fabric at the front, while a cocktail dress was re-envisaged in dark denim with a pleated skirt and sheer shoulder straps. Not a dress lover? No problem. She also proposed wide legged trousers that could double as a skirt and tailored pinstriped jackets.

Shirley Wong also sent out some stellar evening looks under her brand, FromClothingOf. She referenced men’s wear, specifically from the turn of the 20th century, which she reworked into statement dresses that were both romantic and modern. A simple men’s waist coast formed the basis of many fantastic looks including a belted top and origami skirt combo and a sleeveless dress with asymmetric folds at the sides, layered on top of a sheer black blouse.

While most of the designers showed women’s wear, DEMO. designer Derek Chan took us to Paris for his men’s only collection. The berets and neckerchiefs may have added French flair but the clothes were wearable and included oversized trench coats, striped separates and shirts decorated with scripted handwriting.

The French weren’t the only culture referenced in the show. Designers Yeung Chin and Jane Ng from phenotypsetter embraced a more conceptual approach, as pioneered by Japanese designers. Ng’s collection, aptly titled “Shatters and Layers,” experimented with looks consisting multiple of layers of colours, prints and even textures. One of the best was the white T-shirt covered with strips of red fabric paired with the red and white tulle skirt layered under crumpled plastic.

While Ng’s designs were playful, YEUNG CHIN opted for more edgy separates including long tops, parachute skirts and ruched dresses accented with ribbon ties and strips of fabrics that bring to mind technical gear. Gold and silver jackets and skirts added a futuristic touch. Next time however, he should leave the distracting boxing gear at home.

CENTRESTAGE 2018
Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE is Asia’s premier fashion event, offering a promotion platform for fashion brands and designers to showcase their talent. Events such fashion shows, designer sharing sessions, open talks, trend analyses and networking opportunities, with the objective of connecting local brands with the global fashion industry.

CENTRESTAGE 2018 was the largest edition ever, with a record 230 fashion brands from 22 countries and regions participating. The fair also presents 40 not-to-be- missed events over its four-day run, including more than 20 fashion shows. Fairgoers can also attend designer sharing sessions, industry seminars, networking events and other activities.

The Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE showcase of high-calibre local and overseas fashion talents, and exciting, engaging events was held during the show period. It has created a fashion extravaganza that enables brands to overcome geographical and time limitations to showcase their latest designs to buyers and fashionistas.

CENTRESTAGE to provide a comprehensive promotional platform through which Asian fashion brands and budding designers can launch and present their latest fashion collections and connect with global buyers and fashionistas at the same time. A greater number of local and international fashion brands participating at this year’s CENTRESTAGE, underscoring the event’s position as Asia’s leading launch and marketing platform for fashion brands and highlighting its ability to create diverse business opportunities.

HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room.