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| Immediate Release March 3, 2005
2005 HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FUR
& FASHION FAIR The 2005 Hong Kong International Fur & Fashion Fair was held from 25 to 28 February, 2005 in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The event was organized by the Hong Kong Fur Federation, with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in the role of Adviser. Hong Kong is truly establishing its position as the international fur centre of the world. The Hong Kong Fur Fair, now in its 24th year, hosted 172 exhibitors, 10% up from last year, which comprised 100 members of the Hong Kong Fur Federation and 72 overseas exhibitors from 13 different countries including Argentina (for the first time), Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Korea, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. “This year, Hong Kong fur companies are offering an even greater variety of fur products,” commented Nora Tse, Marketing Director of Saga Furs, “and the Fair is now internationally recognized as the showcase for buyers wishing to source quality fur garments”. In response to the demand from buyers and exhibitors, this year's Fair venue has been expanded to occupy 16,000 square metres of the HKCEC, an increase of 30% in exhibition space from last year. Over 400 booths were set up, spread over four floors of the Convention Centre. The total number of visitors this year, over 5,700, has increased by 40%, compared to last year's figures. Exhibitors have noted the growth in the number of US and European visitors – both up 50%, indicating the growing demand from these traditionally conservative markets, as well as the high numbers of visitors from Korea (up 50%) and Japan (up 82%). There was also an increase in visitors from less familiar countries such as Hungary and Poland, largely as a result of the Hong Kong Fur Federation's efforts through their various overseas missions last year to promote Hong Kong as an international fur centre. Interestingly, buyers have been particularly active. “Buyers are hungry for merchandise,” explained Thomas Wong, Managing Director of Asia Fur Co. Ltd., “as the range of products this year is much wider and previous years have seen a run down of stock on the part of retailers”. Orders were being filled in almost on day one as, aptly put by one exhibitor, “no one is here to window shop”. Even, the recent increase in mink prices did not seem to dampen the mood. Total anticipated sales orders, helped no doubt by favourable exchange rates, reached a record HK$2.4 billion (up 27%). Confirmed business orders showed distinct growth compared to last year with the major buyers like the European Union and Russia recording increases of 43% and 9% - and there was strong demand from USA (up 45%), China (up 23%), Korea (up 93%) and Japan (up 20%) as well. In general, exhibitors and buyers agreed that the 2005 Fur Fair had gone one even better than last year's event, which already had been feted as a huge success. The 2005 Fur Gala, the showcase of the Fair, which was held on the opening night, gave every indication that this was to be the case. Over 1,800 guests attended the Fur Gala to take the opportunity to review 21 collections of the finest fur fashion designs from Hong Kong's leading fur companies as well as enjoying the offerings of sumptuous first class Chinese banquet dining. The influence of international designers and fashion houses was very much in evidence in the Gala and throughout the Fair highlighting Hong Kong's paramount skills in taking creative input from Europe and producing fur garments of high class and style. “Fur is now a mainstream business, which is set to continue,” commented Frank Zilberkweit, Chairman of Polar Furs Ltd., “The range and colours at this year's Fair have been outstanding. Many companies have come up with exciting and innovative ideas this year through collaboration with European fur houses so that a wide range of materials is on offer, not just mink.” Herman Jansen, CEO of North American Fur Auctions concurs, “The fur exhibits this year are more fashion-conscious based on younger looks. This is the biggest fair that Hong Kong has staged so far in terms of size, people, and attractiveness of garments. Hong Kong makes fur for all the major markets and this is where Hong Kong is truly showing leadership.” Even the layout of the Fur Fair has been
different this year. With more space booked, exhibitors have been able to display their
fashions more elegantly and the broader walkways gave visitors the air of a stroll down
fashion avenue. In addition, a new Italian Pavilion was set up especially for this year's
Fair to accommodate eight exhibition booths from Italy. “The
feeling this year is fantastic,” enthused Robert Lam, Chairman
of the Hong Kong Fur Federation, “Fur exports are definitely
going to be up, which is good news both for Hong Kong, as well as for the industry. Next
year, we will be expanding the Fair even more, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the
world's leading fur centre.” |
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即時發佈 03.03.2005 2005香港國際毛皮時裝展覽會 由香港毛皮業協會主辦，香港貿易發展局擔任顧問的「2005香港國際毛皮時裝展覽會」，已於二月二十五日至二十八日假香港會議展覽中心隆重舉行。 毋庸置疑，香港已奠定國際毛皮中心的地位。今年，香港國際毛皮時裝展覽會已踏入第二十四屆，邀請到一百七十二家毛皮商參展，較去年增加了10%。在眾多參展商當中，其中一百家是香港毛皮業協會的會員，另外七十二家則是來自十三個國家的海外參展商，包括首次參展的阿根廷、澳洲、加拿大、中國、芬蘭、法國、德國、希臘、義大利、韓國、西班牙、土耳其和英國。世家皮草的市務董事謝思娜小姐說：「今年，香港的毛皮公司展出了更多款式新穎的毛皮時裝，令人目不暇給。展覽會現已成為國際毛皮業界的矚目盛事，吸引各地買家慕名而來，採購質料上乘的毛皮時裝。」 為滿足買家和參展商的需要，今年的展覽場地再次擴充，總面積達16,000平方米，與去年相比增加了30%。場內設有逾四百個展覽攤位，分佈在會展四層展覽場地。參觀人數亦超過5,700人，較去年增加40%。參展商表示，來自美國和歐洲的參觀人士大幅增加，較去年均有五成的增幅，可見這些傳統的毛皮市場對產品的需求日益殷切。另一方面，展覽會亦不乏來自韓國和日本的參觀人士，人數較去年分別增加50%和82%，而一些來自新興市場，例如匈牙利和波蘭等國家的人數亦有上升，展覽會能有此吸引力，全賴香港毛皮業協會去年在海外積極展開宣傳推廣，致力加強香港的國際毛皮中心地位。 值得一提的是，今年的買家特別踴躍。亞洲皮草有限公司董事總經理王象志先生表示：「今年的毛皮款式特別多，加上過往幾季的零售生意理想，貨品被搶購一空，所以今年批發商無不熱烈搶購各種毛皮產品。」在展覽的第一天，參展商便幾乎收足訂單，其中一家參展商更稱：「沒有人來這裏只看不買」，這句話可說是相當貼切。近期貂皮價格上升，對購買意欲似乎絲毫無損。今屆展覽會的總銷售額預期將創下24億港元的新高，與去年相比上升了27%，無疑匯率的變動亦是有利因素之一。此外，已確認的訂單亦較去年出現顯著增幅，來自歐盟和俄羅斯的主要買家分別上升了43%和9%，而美國(增加45%)、中國(增加23%)、韓國(增加93%)和日本(增加20%)等地的需求亦十分強勁，不容忽視。 參展商與買家普遍認為，去年的展覽會已獲得理想成績，但今年更勝一籌。早於展覽會的揭幕晚會「2005皮草之夜」，便已預示今屆展覽會的輝煌成就。當晚共有超過1,800位嘉賓出席，一睹香港毛皮業協會21間會員公司最新系列，在欣賞目不暇給的毛皮時裝之餘，同時享受大會準備的中式晚宴。 香港的時裝設計師才華橫溢，歐洲的時裝潮流正可啟發他們的創作靈感，令本港的毛皮產品不斷推陳出新。今屆的「皮草之夜」以至整個展覽會，均能充份體現國際級時裝設計師和知名時裝品牌的精髓，讓毛皮設計的時尚高雅氣質發揮得淋漓盡致。Polar Furs Ltd. 主席Frank Zilberkweit先生表示：「毛皮貿易已成為時裝界的主流之一，這股趨勢將會延續下去。無論是款式抑或顏色設計，今屆展覽會的產品都無與倫比。今年，不少公司與歐洲毛皮公司攜手合作，構思各種大膽、創新的意念，推出一系列優質毛皮時裝，用料也不局限於貂皮。」對此，北美洲裘皮拍賣公司的行政總裁Herman Jansen先生亦大表認同：「今年所展出的時裝款式充滿年輕氣息，甚具潮流觸覺。今屆是香港歷來最大型的毛皮展覽，不論在規模、參觀人數及展品質素方面，均更勝從前。香港是全球各大毛皮市場的主要供應商，享有真正的領導地位，實力非凡。」 今年的展覽場地佈置亦別出心裁。由於展覽場地較往年為大，參展商能夠發揮空間感，以優雅風格展現各款瑰麗時裝。參觀人士漫步其中，猶如置身一條寬敞的時裝大道。此外，今年的展覽會特設全新的意大利館，讓八家意大利參展商參展其中。香港毛皮業協會主席林滋興先生說：「今年展覽會的氣氛非常熱烈，令人振奮，預料毛皮出口量定必繼續增長，這對香港毛皮業以至全球業界來說都是好消息。近年，參展商對展位的需求不斷上升，有見及此，我們決定來年再次擴大展覽會的規模，鞏固香港作為全球首要毛皮中心的地位。」 |
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