2009 Hong Kong International Fur & Fashion Fair
(25-28 February 2009)

Success Fur Sure!

The economic climate may remain chilly in many parts of the world - but a hot spot is the international fur fashion industry. The 2009 staging of the Hong Kong International Fur & Fashion Fair was the largest to date, with 280 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions taking up a record-breaking 27,000 square metres of space. These figures served to underline the show's status as the biggest of its kind in Hong Kong and the largest in Asia Pacific. The trade event encompassed fur and leather garments, fur skins, furrier's tools, accessories, pelts and machinery.

The event, organised by Hong Kong Fur Federation alongside adviser Hong Kong Trade Development Council, drew participation from 112 Hong Kong companies. They were joined by 168 overseas exhibitors from very diverse markets, namely Argentina, Canada, mainland China, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, Namibia, Russia, Spain, Turkey, UAE, UK and US. The Greek Pavilion, with 23 fur companies under its umbrella, made its debut, and was widely praised for its unconventional products.

Attracted by the opportunity to asses the latest ideas and market directions were a total of 4,700 local and international buyers. It appeared that buyers were opting for fashionable and trendy items on one hand, while on the other there was also strong interest in basic pieces. Proving particularly popular were lighter weights of fur, fur-for-all-seasons, the combining of different fur materials to add texture and fun to garments and accessories, as well as new treatments and manufacturing techniques.

The glamour factor was turned up even higher with the staging of the Fur Gala on the opening evening, with 20 leading Hong Kong fur manufacturers parading their collections on the catwalk.

The next edition of the Hong Kong International Fur & Fashion Fair will take place from 25 to 28 February 2010 at HKCEC.

Hong Kong Mode Lingerie
(7-8 April 2009)

Buyers Seduced by Style

HKCEC was awash with lace, silk, embroidery and other luxurious fabrics and trims as the world's lingerie buyers were seduced by Hong Kong Mode Lingerie, held over two days in early April.

More than 150 exhibitors from 14 countries participated in this event, which is the largest lingerie show to take place in Hong Kong this year. Despite the current economic situation, figures for exhibitors as well as visitors were stable and encouraging, according to organisers Eurovet. Buyers were top-notch: 76% were directly involved in sourcing and retailing, and 70% were general managers and heads of purchasing departments. Representatives from major intimate apparel groups and brands from Europe, North America and Asia attended the show.

With a theme of "Keys of Seduction", the fair also encompassed a range of value-added activities. There was an extensive programme of seminars and conferences, covering trends, market updates, business intelligence and the latest technologies. A showcase of award-winning pieces and prototypes of 'haute lingerie' from Ultra Lingerie 2009 drew plenty of attention from fair participants, thanks to the originality, luxuriousness and craftsmanship of the display pieces. In addition, final-year students from ACE Style Institute of Intimate Apparel, Institute of Textiles and Clothing of Hong Kong Polytechnic University also got the unparalleled opportunity of showing off their designs at the Cocktail Reception.

HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) 2009
(13-16 April 2009)

Electronics Show Creates a Buzz

Two established favourites and a new event combined together to create quite a buzz in mid April - with the added boost of being the first to take advantage of the newly expanded HKCEC.

The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), HKTDC International ICT Expo and HKTDC International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) together featured 3,600 exhibition booths.

As the biggest electronics event in Asia and the second biggest in the world, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair was packed with new ideas and innovative products. With so much to see, buyers were helped by having products grouped into specialist categories, namely in-vehicle electronics & GPS, electronic gaming, audio visual, home appliances, digital imaging and healthcare electronics. The fair's Hall of Fame is one of its brightest attractions, with 214 brand names from 177 companies, including Coby, Desay, Goodway, Haier, Hyundai, TCL and Tunbow. The show was the first to move into the newly expanded exhibition space, namely Hall 1D and 1E.

International ICT Expo presented state-of-the-art software solutions and services in a number of fields including e-logistics & retail technologies, enterprise solutions, home-grown innovations, IT outsourcing, network & mobility and trade-related services. Taken together the Electronics Fair and ICT Expo have established themselves as a key international trading platform for the electronics industry.

The Spring Edition lighting event is a spin-off of the popular Hong Kong International Lighting Fair, held in October every year and acclaimed as the largest lighting exhibition in Asia. This new show fills a gap in the calendar for lighting sourcing, enabling buyers to assess market trends and place orders for the latest products in time for the busy autumn/winter season.

The three-in-one event is set to take place again from 13 to 16 April 2010 at HKCEC.

HOFEX 2009
(6-9 May 2009)

Hospitality Decision-Makers Come into Town

The most representative food and hospitality tradeshow in Asia is back for its 13th edition. HOFEX, which is staged biennially, is again HKCEC. It takes up more than 44,000 square metres of space - the biggest ever. A total of 1,800 exhibitors, including 41 national and regional pavilions are taking part, and expect to receive around 30,000 visitors.

Among the new features of the show is the new N.O.W. zone, covering natural, organic and well-being products and services, along with Wine Avenue, Liquor Square and Tea & Coffee Village. Trademark events, such as the International Culinary Classic, International Wine Challenge and Allworld Open Cup - Creative Classic & Bartending Flair are also back, alongside the prestigious Regional Hotel General Managers' Forum, Hospitality IT Forum and Asian Club Management Conference.

This event draws the decision-makers in the hospitality industry from far and wide, eager to assess and source the latest in hotel, restaurant & foodservice equipment, supplies and services. One of the reasons for its successful track record is that it offers fantastic opportunities for participants to tap into the China market.