Fête Chinoise Exclusive: On the Ground in Hong Kong at the Inaugural Fashion Fest
Written by Deirdre Kelly
Photography: Deirdre Kelly and Hong Kong Fashion Fest

It was a historic day for Chinese fashion, and Fête Chinoise was there—the only publication from North America granted a ringside seat at an event aimed at re-establishing “Made in China” as an elite brand. Serving as the inaugural launch of Hong Kong Fashion Fest, VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture, took place on November 25 at The Henderson, a new landmark building in Central designed by internationally acclaimed Zaha Hadid Architects.

The kick-off event featured a glamorous couture fashion show tailored to highlight the intersection of four fashion cultures, represented by invited designers Charles de Vilmorin from France, Mohamed Benchellal from the Netherlands, Cheney Chan from Mainland China, and Kay Kwok from Hong Kong. Initiated by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA) with support from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the presentation aimed to establish Hong Kong as a hub for designers working in haute couture from around the world.

“This is the first time an Asian country is presenting couture,” said HKFDA chairman Kevin Leung, a fashion brand consultant and strategist who trained in high fashion at France’s esteemed L’École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. 

“Fashion,” Leung continued in an interview with Fête Chinoise, “is a way to connect, communicate, and exchange ideas. It’s very important for creativity.”

On Monday, the creatives were out in force, dressed to impress in support of Hong Kong’s rising ambition to become the most fashion-conscious city in all of Asia. Their sparkling ensembles included local beauty queens such as newly-crowned Miss Earth Hong Kong Ariel Tse and Celia Ip, the 2024 recipient of the international Miss World Noble Queen pageant. Fashion media, politicians, and local designers such as product innovator Richard Li also graced the event. An HKFDA committee member, Li wore a luminous sea foam-hued satin jacket with a silver bow tie at the noon-time show. 

A graduate of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University—a leading Asian post-secondary institution with a reputable fashion and textiles school—Li posed for photographers while sharing his view that building an international fashion design platform begins at home, with the new generation of Chinese designers coming up through the ranks.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of HKFDA’s founding in 1984, fellow members of the association paired senior design professionals with recent graduates to boost the future of fashion in Hong Kong.

“Bringing together young and old to share knowledge and encouragement was a unique combination, and I’m proud of that,” Li said. “After 35 years, I’m giving back to help establish Hong Kong as a global destination for fashion, where people can find something special without having to go elsewhere.”

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