The 11th edition of CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier fashion event, concluded on September 6, 2026, with record-breaking attendance of more than 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions, according to organizers. The four-day fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), also welcomed over 20,000 public visitors, underscoring Hong Kong's role as a global fashion hub. Launched in 2016, CENTRESTAGE has grown into one of the region's key trade platforms for designer and contemporary fashion brands seeking Asian distribution, held annually at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre alongside the HKTDC's broader calendar of trade fairs.

The event featured approximately 270 brands from 24 countries and regions — a record high — including first-time participants from Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates. Notable international brands making their Hong Kong debut included DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea, Woody from Austria, and VICETA WANG from Australia. Buyers attended from top-tier retailers such as Dover Street Market London, Selfridges, 10 Corso Como, and Musinsa. The breadth of first-time participating countries reflects a wider pattern among Asian trade fairs of courting smaller and emerging-market labels as global brands reassess where to source and showcase new designers.

Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of HKTDC, emphasized the fair's significance: "For many years, CENTRESTAGE has been committed to assisting fashion brands and designers in expanding into international markets. The dynamic interactions between exhibitors and buyers demonstrated that the fair successfully fostered cross-sector exchanges among fashion, art, cultural creativity, and lifestyle industries."

An HKTDC survey of 350 exhibitors and buyers revealed optimistic market sentiment, with 96% expecting sales to remain steady or grow over the next 12 to 24 months. Streetwear and cross-sector collaborations emerged as key trends, with 73% agreeing that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become more prevalent. This aligns with the broader industry shift toward IP-driven merchandise and celebrity-founded labels as traditional wholesale channels compete with direct-to-consumer and social commerce models. In response, CENTRESTAGE introduced a new Hype² pavilion featuring brands spearheaded by local celebrities and KOLs, and launched a Perfume zone with more than 20 fragrance brands making their Hong Kong debut.

Korea debuted as the "Featured Partner," with 12 designer brands from Seoul presented by KOTRA and HISEOUL SHOWROOM. Wilfred Chung, Project Manager of KOTRA Hong Kong, praised the fair's business-matching environment, noting that some Korean brands had already secured deals with Hong Kong buyers for retail launch in Kai Tak. Korean brand Asparagus, an avant-garde genderless label, drew strong interest and expects initial orders of about US$6,000 to US$7,000. Korea's featured role follows the sustained global visibility of K-fashion, which Korean trade agencies have actively promoted through international showcase programs.

First-time Austrian exhibitor Cape De Coeur gained media attention with its waterproof cape, which has been featured in Vogue and GQ, according to Jennifer Feigll, Austrian Trade Commissioner. The Australian delegation, led by Marianne Perkovic, exceeded its meeting targets, with leather brand West 14th securing partnerships with buyers from Korea and Japan.

International buyers offered positive feedback. Sophie Rose Davis-Evans, menswear buyer at Selfridges, noted the fair's diverse portfolio and highlighted two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, as potential wholesale partners. Tifandy Okto of Galeries Lafayette Indonesia expressed interest in Australia's VICETA WANG and Chinese Mainland brand WANZZZ.

The fair also hosted more than 30 fashion shows, a record high, including the opening CENTRESTAGE ELITES by KIT WAN STUDIOS and the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show. The Redress Design Award finale, dedicated to circular fashion, awarded first prize to German designer Jon Liesenfeld. The Redress Award, run with the Hong Kong-based environmental charity Redress, is one of the world's largest sustainable design competitions, reflecting growing industry attention to circularity in fashion production.

Moon Li, Founder of Artis Cultural Association, which brought perfume brands to the fair, said: "We were pleasantly surprised by the large number of fragrance enthusiasts in Hong Kong and their strong purchasing power. We expect on-site retail sales during the fair to reach HK$100,000." The new fragrance focus mirrors the global growth of the niche-perfume segment, where independent scent brands have expanded rapidly in Asian markets.

The success of CENTRESTAGE reinforces Hong Kong's position as Asia's fashion hub and a center for international cultural exchange, with implications for global fashion sourcing and cross-industry innovation. With the fair's growing emphasis on celebrity-driven labels, IP collaborations, and adjacent categories such as fragrance, its 2027 edition will indicate whether these new formats become permanent fixtures of the event.