NEXT@Fashion InStyle Returns to Hong Kong in April with Focus on Material Innovation
The future of fashion will take centre stage in Hong Kong this April as NEXT@Fashion InStyle
returns as a key highlight of Fashion InStyle 2026, running from 27 to 30 April 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the event has positioned itself as one of Asia’s significant meeting points for the global fashion supply chain. The fair brings together hundreds of exhibitors across specialised zones covering textiles, fashion technology and sustainability solutions, creating a comprehensive one-stop sourcing platform that connects designers, manufacturers, material innovators and buyers.
Within the larger fair, NEXT@Fashion InStyle serves as a dedicated spotlight on emerging materials and experimental approaches to design. Building on the momentum of its previous edition, the zone will once again explore how next-generation textiles and production techniques are reshaping the fashion industry — particularly sustainability, material functionality and creative fabrication.
A Platform for Material Innovation
The NEXT@Fashion InStyle zone continues to be supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, with the Philippines named as this year’s featured partner. The collaboration is facilitated by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center – Hong Kong (PTIC) and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).
30 Philippine suppliers will participate in the zone, presenting textiles and materials that reflect the country’s growing role within the global fashion supply network. They will be joined by around 60 exhibitors from various countries and regions, creating a platform that combines international innovation with regional craftsmanship.
Fashion designer Han Chong returns as the zone’s ambassador. Best known as the founder and creative director of the London-based label Self-Portrait, Chong will help guide the exhibition’s curatorial direction.
This year’s presentation is organised around three themes — Cultural & Heritage, Sustainability, and Technology & Functionality — reflecting broader shifts in the fashion industry toward materials that combine performance, environmental responsibility and cultural relevance.
Designers Experiment with New Materials
A series of collaborative design projects will form the centrepiece of the NEXT@Fashion InStyle showcase. Chong has partnered with six emerging Hong Kong designers and brands, working with forward-looking textiles sourced from eight global suppliers to produce five cross-disciplinary projects that deliver a “Fashion Shock” through craftsmanship, material interpretation, and diverse patchwork.
One project by designers Toki Wong and Lusana Xu experiments with sustainable textiles. They incorporate 100% biodegradable material AlgaFila into padded garments alongside Nanoflex, a resilient and elastic fibre designed to enhance durability and flexibility. Advanced dyeing techniques are used to produce vivid colours while maintaining environmental considerations.
Designer Jason Ying takes a different approach with denim, combining silky Tencel denim
with sustainable leather elements. Knit accessories are integrated into the garments to
create contrasts in texture while exploring more responsible material sourcing. The sensory collision of contrasting textures optimises the wearing experience, interpreting a sophisticated style that balances fluidity with eco-responsibility.
The experimental label Ponder.er presents garments constructed from self-developed textiles, manipulating fibre structures and surfaces to examine how custom materials can expand the expressive possibilities of fashion design.
Meanwhile, WILSONKAKI explores the intersection of natural materials and advanced fibres. The collection combines all-natural textiles with mycelium-based fibres and ultra-light H2 material, applying collage-style techniques that challenge conventional garment construction.
Finally, Tigerstrolling revisits heritage craftsmanship through a contemporary lens.
The project blends traditional Song brocade, recognised as an intangible cultural heritage
textile, with denim and Hong Kong design elements, offering a reinterpretation of traditional craft
in modern fashion.
Knowledge Exchange and Industry Dialogue
Beyond the exhibition floor, Fashion InStyle will also host a programme of seminars and
networking sessions addressing the forces currently shaping the industry. Topics include
sustainable production, innovative textiles and emerging fashion technologies.
Fashion parades scheduled throughout the event will provide another platform to showcase
new material applications and design concepts, offering visitors a closer look at how experimental
fabrics translate into finished garments.
Cross-Industry Sourcing
Fashion InStyle is part of a broader cluster of trade fairs taking place simultaneously at
the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Alongside the fashion event, visitors will also be able to explore Home InStyle, the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair.
The co-location of these exhibitions creates opportunities for cross-industry sourcing, allowing buyers to explore materials, packaging solutions, lifestyle products and fashion innovations within a single venue.
Hybrid Format Extends the Fair
To broaden participation, the organisers will once again adopt the “EXHIBITION+” hybrid model. While the physical fair runs from 27 to 30 April, online business matching and sourcing services will operate from 20 April to 7 May.
Through the Click2Match platform and hktdc.com Sourcing, buyers can connect with
exhibitors, discover new suppliers and arrange meetings both during and after the physical event.
In an industry increasingly shaped by technological change and sustainability demands,
NEXT@Fashion InStyle aims to provide a window into how materials — and the designers experimenting with them are redefining the next chapter of fashion.
