Inside Hong Kong’s Strategy to Become Asia’s Fashion ‘Super-Connector’
Following the third edition of Hong Kong Fashion Fest, BoF speaks to Drew Lai, the government-appointed commissioner for cultural and creative industries, about her strategy to make Hong Kong an ambitious global fashion hub.
Hong Kong is positioning itself as Asia's fashion "super-connector" by fostering connections between Eastern and Western fashion. In 2023, Robert Wun, a Hong Kong-born designer, presented at the Paris Haute Couture calendar, marking a significant milestone. With over 23 million international visitors in 2025, Hong Kong's tourism sector is thriving, and this influx of visitors presents an opportunity to engage consumers with local fashion.
The city's young designers are increasingly creating distinctive, Chinese-inspired designs, reflecting a growing trend known as Guochao. The Hong Kong Fashion Fest, now in its second year, has evolved to include both a business-focused program and public-facing pop-up shops, aiming to make fashion accessible to the general public.
The event features collaborations with international brands and organizations, such as the British Fashion Council and the Italian Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, to reinforce Hong Kong's international profile. By creating a tightly knit network of trade, culture, and consumer activities, the festival aims to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a fashion hub within Asia, bridging the mainland, overseas, and local designers while offering young designers a platform to connect with customers and industry professionals.
Written by urgent.news from Business of Fashion's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
