The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region should ride on the nation’s cultural boom to promote homegrown clothing brands and make the city a fashion hub, says Henry Tan, a national political adviser and prominent garment entrepreneur.
Speaking to China Daily in Beijing on the sidelines of the “two sessions” that concluded on Tuesday, he urged the SAR’s fashion industry to capitalize on the country’s phenomenal cultural products that have emerged in recent years, such as Ne Zha 2 -- a Chinese mainland animated blockbuster that has grossed nearly 15 billion yuan ($2.07 billion) at the box office worldwide.
As guochao, which refers to cultural styles with distinguished Chinese characteristics, is winning hearts at home and abroad, Tan said Hong Kong garment enterprises should proactively place their products in guochao films and animations for greater exposure.
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He noted that a French fashion brand has found favor with young Chinese consumers through its sponsorship of Blossoms Shanghai -- a popular mainland television series directed by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai. The drama’s overseas releases have even taken the brand to a larger audience, he said.
Tan, who has been in the garment and textile business for decades, said Hong Kong’s role in the industry has shifted from manufacturing to areas with added values, such as distribution and design, which he believes can complement mainland fashion brands’ expansion abroad -- a trend that has been fueled by guochao.
“Mainland clothing products are of good quality and design,” Tan said, pointing to the dark blue Chinese-style coat he was wearing. He said Hong Kong has a pool of professionals and well-developed international business networks.
“We (the mainland and Hong Kong) are in the same boat when exploring overseas markets,” he said.
Starting from 2024, Hong Kong began hosting Hong Kong Fashion Design Week annually to propel the development of its fashion-and-textile design brands.
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel -- a government-funded research body established in 2006 -- aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the local textile and clothing industry through research and technology transfer.
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Tan said he hopes these policies, coupled with the industry’s efforts, will turn Hong Kong into an Asian fashion hub in line with the global garment landscape.
“As Asia’s economy grows, Asian clothing brands will be able to win a bigger share of the market dominated by European and American brands.”
Thus, Hong Kong’s role as a fashion center can be of help to the country and the region, he said.
Contact the writer at williamxu@chinadailyhk.com
