HK meets NY in spectacular fashion

Models in neon prints sashayed down the catwalk as techno music played against a backdrop of Hong Kong's iconic signage, traffic lights and tunnels.

The tungsten lights dimmed after Paris Hilton arrived at her front-row seat.

The setting wasn't China, however, but the Skylight Clarkson Square venue in Manhattan's SoHo as Hong Kong designer Vivienne Tam presented her latest collection, "City of Lights", during New York Fashion Week.

Hong Kong used to be one of the world's largest garment suppliers before orders started moving to the mainland and eventually Southeast Asia and Vietnam.

Now, officials in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are looking to raise the city's fashion game.

Financial Secretary John Tang announced that $65 million (HK$500 million) had been allocated to support local fashion designers and emerging brands in the 2016-2017 budget.

"Today we are looking at the higher-value-added fashion sectors. We are promoting our designers and high-tech materials rather than the basics," said Ralph Chow, the regional director for the Americas of Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC).

Clockwise from top: 1. Loom Loop FW17 Collection "Separated Lovers" inspired by Chinese story the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd. 2. Harrison Wong FW17 collection "Modern Monastic" inspired by monastic robes. 3. Vivienne Tam FW17 collection "City of Lights" celebrating 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. 4. Cynthia & Xiao FW17 Collection "Little Emperor" inspired by rabbit and tiger, the Chinese zodiac animals of the two designers. Provided To China Daily

Earlier on Wednesday morning, the council held a Fashion Hong Kong show featuring three young local brands: Cynthia & Xiao, Harrison Wong and Loom Loop.

HKTDC, the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based small- and medium-sized businesses, subsidized the show, holding a buyers' night event and collaborating with a showroom where more potential buyers and agents could peruse the collections over the next month.

"I'm so glad that more Chinese mainland designers, Hong Kong designers are here," said Tam, who first debuted her brand at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in 1994. "The platform in New York is incredible, and the Hong Kong government is spending so much effort."

Clement Leung, the Hong Kong commissioner to the US, also attended Tam's show.

Leung told China Daily that the Hong Kong government has launched an incubation program to help design-focused startups build business networks and market their fashion products.

"We want to give them the international exposure and the experience they need," he said. "We encourage everyone to use Hong Kong as their inspiration."

Polly Ho of Loom Loop and Harrison Wong returned to NYFW after participating in the first Fashion Hong Kong show held by HKTDC in February 2016. Each is paying $9,000, and HKTDC covers the rest, which costs approximately $130,000.

"It would be impossible for us to show if we do it ourselves," said Ho. Her collections always draw inspiration from Chinese legends, and this season tells the story of the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd, the two separated lovers who are allowed to meet only once a year on a bridge formed by a flock of magpies.

While most of her clothes were made on the mainland, this time two samples worn by models were made in Hong Kong after the government funded a program helping designers to make their samples locally with a cheaper price.

Ho and Wong didn't get an order from last season. They hope that by doing the second season, the familiarity will finally pay off.

"You want to continue coming back so the buyers get to know you better," said Ho. "And I believe that fashion is coming to the East as consumers are looking to get unique pieces. We have so much history and culture that we draw our inspirations from."

Cynthia Mak and Xiao Xiao, both graduates of the Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London, are showing Cynthia & Xiao in North America for the first time.

This collection was inspired by the rabbit and the tiger, the Chinese zodiac animals of Mak and Xiao.

"What we show in Europe are more classy, and what we show here are sporty and funky," Xiao said.

hezijiang@chinadailyusa.com