NEXT@Fashion InStyle
Fashion is a creative journey that never stops. It is a pursuit of aesthetics and a fusion of culture, sustainability, and technology. When a designer’s inspiration meets unique materials, infinite possibilities emerge. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Fashion InStyle will make its grand debut on April 27, 2025, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The new exhibition area, ‘NEXT@Fashion InStyle,’ features Han Chong, the founder of the renowned brand Self-Portrait, as the consultant. He will lead five Hong Kong designers in collaborating with five innovative materials, redefining the future of fashion with revolutionary material applications.
The “NEXT @ Fashion InStyle” exhibition area is funded by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is an honour to have Thailand as a strategic partner, with strong support from the Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) and the National Soft Power Development Committee. The event brings together over 60 global suppliers of new materials from regions including mainland China, Europe, North America, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore, collectively exploring new directions for the future of fashion. ‘NEXT’ signifies ‘future’ and ‘foresight.’ The event is founded on materials, focusing on three key areas: culture and heritage, innovative technology, and sustainable development. It will collaborate with five local designers who will uniquely integrate tradition and modernity, functionality and aesthetics, showcasing the versatility and vitality of materials.
The five participating designers draw inspiration from new materials, showcasing their creativity to the fullest. Kinyan Lam ingeniously incorporates traditional craftsmanship with Gambier Canton Silk into modern design, breathing new life into a national-level intangible cultural heritage. Arto Wong uses fabric made from extracted seaweed and lotus fiber to create a vibrant and dynamic visual experiment. Toki Wong also features seaweed fibers, delivering a refreshing coastal vibe through blended yarn techniques and unique weaving methods. Jason Ying reimagines classic military attire using sustainable denim from Advance Denim, showcasing the excellent qualities of modern denim. Meanwhile, Johnson Chong focuses on functional material X-Pac®, creating urban functional wear that is both practical and stylish. Together, these five designers perfectly harmonize new materials with fashion design to compose a creative and innovative fashion symphony.
The “NEXT@Fashion InStyle” exhibition has invited Han Chong, the founder of the renowned brand Self-Portrait, as a consultant. With his valuable experience and unique perspective, he aims to broaden the horizons of local fashion designers. Regarding this collaboration, Han stated, “NEXT@Fashion InStyle is all about pushing innovation in textiles, so when they asked me to be part of the project, it was something I really wanted to support. It’s about giving designers new tools to experiment with and inspiring the next generation to rethink what’s possible.” When guiding young designers in Hong Kong, Han emphasizes listening and inspiration. ” I want to encourage them to explore, to be fearless in their choices, and to think about how fabric plays a role in their design process.” He stresses the importance of having a unique perspective in design and advises designers to study materials deeply: “The more you understand about how a fabric behaves, the better you can design with it. And don’t be afraid to push boundaries—innovation happens when you take risks.”
As a strategic partner of NEXT@Fashion InStyle, Thailand brings nearly 30 exhibitors to the event, showcasing local fashion materials on the international stage. These materials blend rich cultural heritage with innovative technology and the advantages of sustainable development, offering the warmth of traditional craftsmanship alongside the sharpness of modern technology. They add an exotic flair to the exhibition area and inject new vitality into the global fashion industry. This presents a rare opportunity to experience new technologies of Thai fashion materials.
New material suppliers from around the world each bring unique characteristics, combining cutting-edge technology with sustainable development elements to showcase new trends in fashion textiles. Among them is Sapro-Tech from New Zealand (booth: 3F-J11), which produces innovative, durable, and visually striking sustainable leather using fungi combined with unique technology and design. Taiwanese clothing brand RAPA (booth: 3F-F11) presents distinctive marble and metallic fabrics made from advanced technology and leather. The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) (booth: 3F-H22) contributes the country’s most cutting-edge textile research and development techniques to the exhibition. Mainland China’s exhibitor, Vegatex (booth: 3F-H13), utilises organic waste such as fruit peels and grain husks as raw materials, creating various sustainable bio-leathers through patented technology as alternatives. Vietnamese exhibitor Faslink (booth: 3F-E08) showcases coffee fibers made from coffee grounds and recycled plastic bottles, which help reduce waste and minimize negative environmental impacts.
During the exhibition, NEXT@Fashion InStyle aims to allow participants to appreciate the new collections crafted by five local designers through the exhibition and a fashion parade scheduled for the evening of April 28. This event will showcase advanced materials such as bio-manufactured textiles, recycled fibers, and smart fabrics that can sense environmental changes. This will allow attendees to explore these innovative materials’ design processes and details.
Additionally, multiple seminars will be held, focusing on sustainability, innovative technology, and fashion trends, inviting industry experts to share their insights and perspectives. This initiative will connect designers with leading brands, making the event a showcase and a hub for communication, serving as a starting point for the convergence of inspiration and business opportunities.
From the warm elegance of fragrant cloud gauze to the natural freshness of seaweed and lotus fibers, and the eco-friendliness of sustainable denim combined with the intelligence of functional materials—each type of material transforms in the hands of designers into stunning garments that captivate the eye. This fusion of creativity, technology, tradition, and modernity collaboratively constructs a brighter new world of fashion.
#BeNEXTready
INFO
“Fashion InStyle “
Date： 27 – 30 April 2025
Venue： Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Website：www.hktdc.com/event/fashioninstyle/en
Buyer registration：https://bit.ly/4hMASYi