The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today concluded seven flagship lifestyle and licensing events, attracting over 95,000 buyers from 134 countries and regions for sourcing and business negotiations. The events included the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle, the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, the Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS), and the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC). Non-local buyers primarily came from Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and Japan, with significant growth from the Philippines, Canada, and Türkiye.
Jenny Koo, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “In alignment with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong will continue to actively develop its role as a regional intellectual property trading hub. The seven flagship events fully showcased Hong Kong's distinctive strengths in lifestyle, cultural and creative design, brand development, and intellectual property, offering global buyers a rich and diverse array of sourcing options.”
A survey of 1,541 exhibitors and buyers revealed that nearly half (49.0%) expected overall sales to rise in the next one to two years, while 44.6% foresaw stable sales. Challenges identified include fluctuations in the global economy (47.8%), geopolitical tensions (37.2%), and protectionist measures (33.7%). Respondents viewed sales prospects as promising in ASEAN countries (69.0%), Taiwan (67.9%), India (66.7%), Korea (65.2%), and Chinese Mainland (63.0%).
Product trends indicated strong growth potential for cultural gifts (19.7%), sustainable gifts (18.6%), and tech gifts (18.6%) in the gifts market; designer furniture (27.3%) and smart home technology (23.0%) in home products; and designer clothing (42.4%) and urban clothing (34.5%) in fashion.
Cross-sector opportunities were evident, with Semk Holdings International Limited showcasing B.Duck co-branded IP products at the Gifts & Premium Fair. CK Kwok, Co-founder, said the company connected with buyers from Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The UAE made its debut with Alpha Art, whose founder Mohanmed Alayat reported connecting with around 40 new clients and anticipating potential orders of US$1 million.
The Gifts & Premium Fair also saw three memoranda of understanding signed. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanxi Provincial Committee and Fujian Sub-Council signed MOUs with HKTDC to encourage enterprises to leverage Hong Kong’s platform to “go global.” The Busan Economic Promotion Agency also signed an MOU to promote Korean gift products through Hong Kong.
At Fashion InStyle, the NEXT@Fashion InStyle zone featured over 60 new material exhibitors. Textile Library from Hangzhou applied its patented epoch-poly fabrics with designer brand Ponder.er. Founder Mary Ma noted strong interest and several cooperation intentions. New High Limited, a local swimwear exhibitor, connected with 50 potential buyers, including from Dubai and North Africa, expecting orders of about US$100,000.
Home InStyle introduced innovative materials, with Lotux International Holdings presenting biodegradable cutlery from lotus stems. Sales Director Daphne Wan said discussions are underway for eco-friendly straws and sustainable materials for furniture production. allcareAI Limited debuted an infection-prevention mobile toilet, receiving over 20 enquiries from local care homes and potential partners from Chinese Mainland, Japan, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair attracted buyers like Hot Packaging LLC from the Middle East, sourcing eco-friendly packaging. Senior Commercial Officer Anas Bin Haneef connected with 12 new suppliers and plans to introduce corrugated paper bags and biodegradable products to the UAE market. W.H.Y. Brand Consultancy participated in DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong for the first time, connecting with printers and design firms, with founder William Yeung expecting around US$400,000 in business.
Buyers affirmed the fairs as efficient sourcing platforms. Henry Huang, Vice President at Umbra Ltd from Canada, identified 20 potential suppliers and expects orders up to US$100,000. Jaime Gonzalez, Commercial Director of Mexico’s Promo Life, plans to spend US$200,000 on keychains and magnets from a Hong Kong exhibitor.
At the Hong Kong International Licensing Show, Postgal Workshop reached an agreement with Malaysia-based M&M Creations Holdings for its IP “Din Dong,” valued at over US$200,000. Maura Regan, President and CEO of Licensing International, stated: “We remain convinced that we'll see significant growth across property types. Consumers continue to demand immersive experiences.”
For more information, visit the respective event websites: Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, and Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference.
