Hong Kong Fashion Week Shows Highlight Up-and-Coming Designers
HONG KONG—Emerging talent was displayed front and center at the four runway shows that marked Hong Kong Fashion Week, held July 4–7.
Geometric designs and blocks of prints seemed to be everywhere as well as a certain love with elegant creations that would feel right at home in Hollywood.
Himma Wong took a dramatic and dark look at the fashion world with outfits that seemed to rise up from the underworld. Most dramatic was a black outfit with shoulders that evoked silvery flames.
Jessie Wong specializes in knitwear with a casual feel. That was seen in her figure-hugging jumpsuit with ruffles that cascaded down the front of the sophisticated piece. Mountain Yam employed blocks of vibrant colors to accent the clean lines of his collection, geared for the mid-tier market. Mag Choy favored darker colors with a black dress splashed with beige graphics across the front, a long black-and-white shawl and a navy-blue mini wrap dress that accented the model’s figure.
Norwegian designer Espen Salberg, who now lives in Indonesia, has been showing at Hong Kong Fashion Week since he launched his line three years ago. The former dance instructor filled the runway with wonderful dresses that varied from an Audrey Hepburn look—accented with long gloves, a head scarf and long cigarette holder—to stylish black eveningwear that recalled images from the 1920s.
Also from Indonesia was Alleira, a label created by Wenny and Aster Berliani. They took batik prints from their native country and shaped them into modern designs with a handicraft look. Skirts and dresses came in vibrant pink fuchsias and oranges as well as down-to-earth tones such as brown and green. Alleira calls itself the modern soul of batik clothing.—Deborah Belgum
