#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2021-09-13

Asia's fashion showcase CENTRESTAGE concludes

Asia's premier fashion event CENTRESTAGE, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, drew to a successful close yesterday. The three-day extravaganza (10 to 12 September) brought together more than 200 fashion brands from 24 countries and regions, with 30 fashion events taking place. It attracted over 2,550 trade buyers and more than 17,200 public visitors to participate and source fashion items. Over the three days of the event, close to 700 video business meetings were arranged to match global fashion buyers with exhibitors online.

Survey: 70% see seasonless fashion as key promotional strategy

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said: "CENTRESTAGE, the premier annual event in the Asian fashion industry, is the first and largest fashion event staged in Hong Kong since the pandemic began. The fair helped industry participants exchange the latest fashion information and develop their businesses. I am pleased to see talented designers launching their latest fashion collections and apparel, showing an endless stream of creativity and vitality. The show was fully open to public visitors for the first time, attracting fashionistas and members of the public who follow fashion trends. The atmosphere in the fairground was positive and it was a special experience for everyone."

53% say fashion sales will increase in 2022 - significantly higher than 2019 survey

The HKTDC conducted a survey during the show to gauge future product trends and the outlook for the fashion industry, interviewing more than 290 exhibitors and buyers. On sales prospects and the market outlook for 2022, 53% of respondents believed that overall sales would increase in the coming year - a significant increase on the 31% who expressed the same sentiment at the 2019 CENTRESTAGE - while 33% expected things to remain steady. Fifty-four per cent expected production or sourcing costs to increase while 40% expected they would remain unchanged. When asked how the pandemic has impacted the fashion business, respondents stated that a drop in sales/revenue (64%), rising sourcing and production costs (27%) and a decrease in the number of physical shops (26%) were the main consequences.

More than 20 fashion shows were held at CENTRESTAGE, including the Hong Kong Emerging Talents Show and Fashion Go Places. Multiple brands showcased their latest collections on stage. © 2021 HKTDC

On fashion trends, 45% of those surveyed expected casual wear and city wear to be the most popular in 2022, followed by fashion accessories (24%) and sportswear (14%). Regarding their promotional strategies in the coming year, 70% either agreed or completely agreed that "seasonless" collections would be the most prevalent trend in the fashion industry next year, while 62% expected the "see now, buy now" model would also be popular.

The sixth CENTRESTAGE ran with "Chapter Infinity" as its central theme, encouraging those in the fashion industry to take creative approaches and reignite their design inspiration in the pandemic era, exploring the countless opportunities that lie ahead. ITOCHU Textile Prominent, the Hong Kong subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate ITOCHU, joined CENTRESTAGE for the first time. Celia Lo, Manager of ITOCHU Textile Prominent, said she identified two local designer brands for developing the company's women's casual wear business and will place orders averaging 1,000 pieces for each style.

CHEMRO, which operates fashion shops in Korea, also sourced at CENTRESTAGE. Danny Chau, Director of CHEMRO, said most of their customers are young people looking for new fashion styles. He said he found four new designer brands from Italy, Hong Kong and Mainland China, and expected that his company would place trial orders involving 1,000 pieces of each men's, women's and children's style per colour.

Local designers shine, enhancing visibility of young fashion brands

More than 20 fashion shows were held during the exhibition. The spotlight opening gala show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, featured the global launch of the 2022 spring/summer collections from local designers Calvin Chan and Joyce Kun's renowned brand The World Is Your Oyster, as well as acclaimed Korean designer Lee Mooyeol's brand, YOUSER. Extended reality (XR) was used to boost the stage show, which attracted many industry professionals, celebrities and fashionistas. Augmented reality (AR) effects were employed to enhance the online viewing experience - click here to enjoy the show.

"Hong Kong Kids Fashion Show" which featured a collection of internationally renowned brands, and the "LEGO x Hong Kong Designers Parade" were well received by audiences. © 2021 HKTDC

Another exciting catwalk show, Fashion Go Places, celebrated the international footprint of Hong Kong designers at international fashion weeks. METHODOLOGY Creative Director Glori Tsui said it was already the sixth year participating in CENTRESTAGE. The company showcased its latest casual collection for women, along with bags and jewellery, attracting a lot of attention and achieving positive results. Another brand, THAT'S CHONG, which specialises in wedding and bridal accessories, participated in CENTRESTAGE for the first time. Its director Boo Chong said a local exporter approached them to explore cooperation and introduce the company's products to the overseas market. She also connected with a supplier selling Japanese ribbons and trimmings that could be used in their latest range of bridal accessories.

The sixth CENTRESTAGE brought together more than 200 fashion brands from 24 countries and regions, with 30 fashion events taking place. It attracted over 2,550 trade buyers and more than 17,200 public visitors to participate and source. © 2021 HKTDC

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

Next week’s focus: Intertextile Shenzhen & Yarn Expo Shenzhen fuse textile tradition with sustainable, digital trends

Fashion will not be left behind in one of the world’s undisputed tech and manufacturing capitals. Which is why next week, at Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026, the organisers have made special efforts to integrate textile topics such as materials innovation, holistic sustainability, digitalisation and AI. Yet, from 9 – 11 June at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the platform also includes timeless tradition and heritage-inspired evolution in equal measure. Across both shows, over 600 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions are set to showcase everything from Peruvian alpaca wool fabrics to tea-derived fibres, while their fringe programmes will explore diverse solutions along the entire value chain.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.