The Fashion Access which opened Wednesday here once again demonstrates that Hong Kong maintains the position as the fashion hub of Asia.

The exhibition has attracted 418 exhibitions companies from 23 countries and regions. Over 5,300 buyers have pre-registered to visit the fair, which is a 53 percent increase compared with that last year.

Buyers from home and abroad are excited since it is a gathering place of fashionable handbags, footwear, travelwear leather garments, fashion accessories and lifestyle products. "We can order the latest design at a competitive price in the exhibition," said a retailer from the Chinese mainland. To buyers like him, the three-day exhibition is only too short.

But to Hong Kong, similar events like Fashion Access is not new. Last month, a jewelry fair attracted over 1,900 companies from 47 countries and regions, and over 120,000 visitors. Buyer attendance at Asia's largest timepiece show, Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair which ended on Sept. 5, was up by 10 percent while visitors from Europe and the United States jumped 13 percent and 5 percent respectively.

"The signing of CEPA with the Chinese mainland provides Hong Kong with an unrivaled gateway to the fast growing market. Flagship stores of famous fashion brands further affirm Hong Kong's noteworthy position as the fashion center in the Asia Pacific Region," said Michael Duck, director of Asia Pacific Leather Fair Ltd.

According to him, such kind of trade fair is the bridge for manufacturers and suppliers to meet with international buyers, which further defines Hong Kong's unique position as the fashion hub of Asia.

But in Tang Yiu's eyes, the essence of Hong Kong as a fashion hub lies in the superb design ability, and various exhibitions only provide a stage for talented Hong Kong designers. Tang chairs Hong Kong Leather Shoes and Shoes Material Merchants Associations.

"Superb design can give the product unique characteristics which helps increase its competitiveness. With the intense competition, Hong Kong manufacturers should focus more on the design and creativity in order to maintain the market share and competitiveness," he noted.

To foster the design capability and encourage talented designers, most exhibitions held here in Hong Kong hold seminars and set special prizes for designers as well.

During the Fashion Access, four seminars are scheduled to give buyers with the latest information on colors and material trends, how to spot the trends, and new market opportunities in the fastest growing markets. Meanwhile, over 120 nominations have been pre-registered to compete for a total of six product design awards and five special awards.

Tang said Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city influenced by the cultures from both the East and West, "her accessibility to information from all over the world helps to nourish a pool of local talented designers."

According to him, as a fashion hub, Hong Kong needs to be a design hub as well.

Source: Xinhua