Speech by DCS at Opening Ceremony of "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture" (English only) (with photos)
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Kevin (Chairman of Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Mr Kevin Yeung), Walter (Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Mr Walter Ma), Raistlin (Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau), Victor (Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Mr Victor Tsang), Sunny (Legislative Council Member Mr Sunny Tan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I would like to welcome you all to the opening of "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture".
Fashion is a powerful medium of expression - it tells stories, reflects characters and identities, and connects people. Hong Kong has a long history of being a melting pot of East and West cultures, and has extensive international networks that attract local and overseas industries to organise and join major cultural and creative events here. All these contribute to the creation of a vibrant ecosystem for growing the local cultural and creative industries. Design, especially fashion design, is indisputably our strong suit.
To develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, which has strong national support, the Chief Executive said in his 2024 Policy Address that the Hong Kong Fashion Design Week, which is now branded "Hong Kong Fashion Fest", will be organised annually starting this year.
The Hong Kong Fashion Fest, which runs from November 20 to December 4, will feature a series of events, ranging from a summit and a forum on the development of the industry, fashion shows and exhibitions, to a cross-sector evening party. Industry professionals, fashionistas, celebrities, the public and tourists alike are all invited to join.
The programmes of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest are organised by various participating organisations, with the sponsorship of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA). Established in June 2024, the CCIDA carries the mission to foster a conducive environment for promoting the industry-oriented development of the arts, culture and creative sectors.
Today's event is organised by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association (HKFDA). There will be three sessions of fashion show, in which four gifted and prominent fashion design masters from Hong Kong, Beijing, France and the Netherlands will be presenting a total of 48 couture fashion pieces. The brilliant designs stand as a testament to craftsmanship, vision and the limitless possibilities of human creativity. The fashion show today will be followed by trunk shows on Wednesday and Thursday, to foster a deeper connections between designers' works and potential couture clients. To share the magic experience of couture with the public, a mini-exhibition of selected show pieces has also commenced yesterday and will last until early December.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the HKFDA for putting together the Hong Kong Fashion Fest. Among the complexities, transporting the breathtaking garments with intricate embroideries, delicate pleating and innovative silhouettes from different locations in the world and gathering them in Hong Kong are the most challenging. The HKFDA has overcome all the difficulties and accomplished the task with perfection. Please join me for giving a round of applause to its Chairman Kevin, and Bonita, the curator and project director.
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy the fashion show to follow and the fabulous programmes of the Hong Kong Fashion Fest for the rest of the week. Thank you very much.
Ends/Monday, November 25, 2024
Issued at HKT 15:05
Issued at HKT 15:05
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