Some 1,900 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions will take part in the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, and HKTDC World Boutique, Hong Kong, 16-19 January, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter and World Boutique, Hong Kong, are premier events for the Asian fashion scene," said Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau at a pre-fair press conference. "The fairs have again received great support from global fashion designers and brands, cementing Hong Kong's status as Asia's trendsetting hub."

Also on hand at today's press conference were a number of well-known local fashion designers including Dodo Leung, Gary Tsang, Himkala Limbu, Hidy Ng and IKA BUTONI. The designers offered previews of their latest work.

Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, the largest event of its kind in Asia will introduce three new product zones - Denim Arcade, Handbags Select and Salon of Scarves & Shawls. Combined with World Boutique, the two fairs will welcome more than 110 buying missions comprising more than 4,700 buyers from 40 countries and regions.

Fashion Extravaganza

World Boutique, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, will include the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza. The event on the evening of 16 January will feature four internationally acclaimed designers - Hong Kong's Hidy Ng, London's Craig Lawrence, Paris' Risto Bimbiloski and Shanghai's Qi Gang.

Hong Kong supermodel Grace Yu, the first Asian face of Dior, will be on the catwalk for Hidy Ng's collection. Bonnie Chen, Mikki Yao, Ana R, Xiao Yi, Emma Xie and Jia Jing will also model designs on catwalk. Video interviews with the Fashion Extravaganza designers are available on the HKTDC webcast service, at http://goo.gl/pUKbS .

Judging Fashion

The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers Contest 2012, 17 January, will showcase a new generation of Hong Kong design talent, with Japanese designer Atsuro Tayama as the VIP judge. Local celebrity model, Janice Man, will wear the finalists' designs on stage and Wing Shya will be art director for photography. The contest will honour winners for Casual & Jeans-wear, Contemporary Day-wear, Party & Evening-wear as well as a winner in the overall category. Winning designs will be on display at the Hall 1D Concourse during the fair.

Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza and Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers Contest 2012 welcome M.A.C. and HAIR as the make-up and hair sponsors. Romero Jennings, senior artist from the M.A.C. Pro Team, will be on hand at the events.

Seminars and Shows

The twin fairs will also offer a full programme of seminars focusing on trend forecasting and design directions. Speakers will include representatives of WGSN, Fashion Snoop, Peclers Paris, WWD and Stylesight.

Hong Kong exports of clothing and related accessories were worth US$22.4 billion in the first 11 months of 2011, up two per cent over the same period in 2010. Major destinations for the exports included the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and the Chinese mainland.

Fair Websites

Fashion Week: http://hktdc.com/hkfashionweekfw/

World Boutique: http://hktdc.com/worldboutiquehk/

About HKTDC

A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 11 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com .