SHADES OF WHITE
Hong Kong fur fair sees companies turn to S.Korea and the Chinese mainland
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – at a time when the fur industry is suffering from decreasing demand from Russia due to the country’s weakening economy and currency depreciation, the Hong Kong International Fur & Fashion Fair (February 21-24), one of the two best-known fur fairs in the world, has turned to South Korea and the Chinese mainland to look for opportunities for growth.
Fur by Hong Kong
One of the key events at each year’s fair, the Hong Kong Fur Gala not only offers visitors a chance to see the latest designs from Hong Kong fur fashion brands, but also acts as a great preview of following fair aimed at buyers from around the world.
Themed Shades of White, this year’s event presented over 140 unique fur designs in a three-scene storyline presentation: Gradient, Grace and Glamour. From romantic and sporty silhouettes to urban chic styles and gorgeous evening gowns, every piece complements modern femininity with its sensational visuals and luxury textures. The sensational showdown culminated in an incredibly dream-like world that epitomized the cheerful charm of fur and the opulent material’s versatility.
The designer for Precious Fur Trading made a bold choice to use pink as the main color for its new collection. Pinkish-yellows and pinkishblues, as well as embroidery and beading were widely used to add a fresh sense to the new collection.
Like last year’s event, Ocean Fur brought both its menswear and womenswear collections to the stage. Focusing on winter clothing for most of its designs, the collection also made use of 3D printing techniques and colors such as gray-blues and dark pinks to build a feeling of intimacy.
Inspired by flowers, East Link took its Flos-themed collection to the catwalk by building a world full of flowers for its traditional Chinese cheongsam-style line, which brings fashionistas back to the 1930s.
Reds, blacks and whites took center stage at the showcase for O’Merinos. The visual impact caused by the clash of reds and blacks makes the new collection a smart choice for young women looking to try something different or even something wild.
The collection from Hong Kong Fur captured the attention of the audience with light fabrics mixed with furs, as well as rich colors and floral designs.
New opportunities
According to Wilson Chiu, chairman of the Hong Kong Fur Federation, “Fur by Hong Kong” has become a wellknown brand “standing for fashion, quality, service and reputation.” “We insist on inheriting the finest traditions, proactively facing coming challenges and working on consolidating a global leading position,” he said during his opening speech at the gala.
The Hong Kong’s fur industry saw exports reach HK$1.5 billion ($191.6 million), with buyers coming from every corner of the world.
“In the past, Russian buyers accounted for 30 to 35 percent of our market. However, due to their weak economy and poor ruble, they don’t spend much money on furs like they used to. So what we are doing now is exploring new markets to bring in more buyers,” he said.
“Fortunately, buyers from South Korea, with the country’s steady economic growth and increasing buying power, put in the most orders at this fair because of their cold weather.”
In his eyes, the Chinese mainland market is full of potential and room for growth.
“For now, the mainland market is mainly dominated by mid-to-low tier products. If we can set up a few brands targeting high-end consumers there, it will be a new growth point for the Hong Kong fur industry and the annual fur fair. After all, Hong Kong is one of the two most important trade platforms for the fur industry along with Milan,” he added.
Dennis Fong, general manager of International Fur, which owns the Isla brand, is one of the few people to test the waters in the mainland. He has opened boutique stores in Northeast China’s Harbin and Changchun, where local consumers favor fur and see it as a must-have fashion item in winter.
“Different from other brands, I prefer to serve customers who are looking to buy their second fur. The first one most people buy is always black or grey and conservative looking as their first consideration is to keep warm. Their second one is different, they look for something special, be it design or color,” said Fong, who is also a veteran designer.
“I never work with wholesale dealers, most of whom only want to order large quantities of basic styles. They don’t care about the needs of their consumers. Working with boutique shops, however, is quite different. We can get feedback from wearers to help us improve our clothing lines. So our strategy is to offer more styles but in smaller quantities. Most of our styled involved two differently colored pieces,” he added.
For Wong Yau-fai of Ace Fur, new styles and new craftsmanship techniques are what have enabled them to persist over the last few decades.
“Mixing various materials, from down and wool to leather, and innovative craftsmanship has helped us not only build collaborative relationships with international fashion houses but also attract buyers from almost every corner of the world. So weather doesn’t have much impact on us because our furs hit markets around the world after autumn,” he said.