Hong Kong Fashion Fest features local talent

The Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association has staged its third couture showcase, featuring international and local talent. Organisers say Hong Kong has the potential to become Asia's

next fashion capital and a new engine for economic growth.

Bright colours and bold cuts owned the runway at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture 2026" brought together couture houses from Spain, Vietnam, and Hong Kong including local designer Vivian Luk.

Beyond wedding gowns, she has now unveiled a ready-to-wear collection, with pieces priced from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, adding colour to everyday life.

Local designer Vivian Luk says "I want to be able to expand to more people, that I might not know. I would need to depend on other people that know me to spread the word. It's definitely helpful to have a community and to have people be positive and supportive."

Dazzling like diamonds these designs certainly made an entrance. The work of a Vietnamese design duo, they had already graced the Paris Couture Week runway earlier this year. Some mainland Chinese celebrities has already worn the brand. Now they made its Hong Kong debut.

Co-founder of Phan Huy Steven Doan says "Our market is have to be have some spending power so Hong Kong, Singapore and all like China have a lot of potential. So hopefully it could be a step in for us, the new step for us to move forward to the new market."

Now in its third year, the showcase is funded by Create Hong Kong and is streamed live globally on social media. They believe Hong Kong has the edge to become Asia's fashion hub and a catalyst for fresh economic momentum.

Local designer Bonita Cheung says " We have the personality, we have the professional, we have all the software that's been laid upon. All of these characteristics allows us to tap into the more sophisticated fashion, design, aesthetic markets, or for people that are looking for higher quality things. We are able to be creative and we have the quality, we have the production that allows us and the software and the service, everything that, allows us to be one of the best in Asia."

The showcase is one of eight flagship events under the Hong Kong Fashion Fest. The fest is running for two weeks until the 14th of this month, bringing together more than 300 local and international design entities.