The 23rd HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer opened on July 4 and will run till July 7, featuring more than 1,200 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions.

The Fashion Week features over 20 events including fashion parades, designers’ collection shows, house shows, trend forecasting seminars, forums and networking events, all being held under the theme ‘Garden Breeze’.

A total of 91 overseas buying missions will bring over 5,100 buyers from 45 countries and regions to the fair and renowned fashion labels, mega chain stores and major distributors.

The Fashion Week also features themed zones for easy sourcing of products, which include ‘Fashion Tech’, ‘Footwear, Leggings & Socks’, ‘Knitwear’ and ‘Womenswear’.

Epson Hong Kong Ltd is showcasing a series of cutting-edge digital textile inkjet printers and dye sublimation printers.

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), is displaying award-winning textile innovations, which includes a method of turning food waste into biodegradable polylactic acid fibres.

Other innovations from HKRITA include the application of recyclable solvents during the fabric dyeing process to reduce water consumption by about 90 per cent compared to conventional methods.

There will also be house shows and fashion parades, including collections by debut designers and students, helping to introduce fresh creative talent to international buyers.

The graduation parade of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies, was held on July 4.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University organised a lingerie show on July 4 and its graduation show will be held on 6 July, while students of the Technological and Higher Education Institute will hold their graduation show on July 5.

A total of seven seminars and forums are arranged throughout the fair. Forecasting experts from WGSN and Fashion Snoops will be leading two seminars examining the trends for autumn/winter 2017/18.