Picking a top five was no easy feat – there was so much incredible talent on show. But these are the designers who stood out, sometimes again and again, popping up across different exhibitions and shows throughout the week. The list isn’t limited to Hong Kong either – it spans Korea and Spain too. The common thread? These are the names you need on your radar now.
Tigers Trolling
This Hong Kong-based brand kept coming up throughout the event, showing three distinct collections. Founded in 2023 by duo Tiger Chung Ka Ching and Tiger Chung Tsz Ho, the label has already won the Redress Design Award 2024 (Global and Hong Kong prizes), back-to-back Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest titles, and debuted at Paris Fashion Week this year.
I first saw them at Virtuouse: The Artistry of Couture, then at the Gala Night for the 10 Asian Designers to Watch, and again at the Denim Voyage Party – standing out each time. Their couture pieces imagined what you’d wear to a black-tie event last minute, pulled together from your own closet: tutu skirts tacked onto suit jackets, or a Chanel-inspired jacket swapping pearls for iPhone headphones. The same suiting-meets-dressing idea showed up at the 10 Asian Designers show, with structured jackets paired with pleated tutu-like skirts. I also loved their denim collection – elevated, unconventional suiting in olive, khaki, and beige. Obsessed.
Leje
Rooted in Korean craftsmanship, Leje reinterprets tradition through a contemporary lens. I saw them at the 10 Asian Designers to Watch show, then again at their exhibition at the Peak Galleria in Hong Kong – and I was impressed. There was one particular skirt made of metal that showcased the Korean Alphabet. Metalwork again stood out at the exhibition where birds, flowers, and butterfly motifs on a structured black dress, and another piece with fish-like, sequin-y scales. I immediately looked them up online and fell for their more wearable offerings too – think polka dots, peplums, asymmetric buttons, and cut-out collars. Basically, I just need to get a piece in my wardrobe stat.
Aenrmous
When I was interviewing Rainy Chan, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Design Centre – who’s role involved championing local creative talent – I got a little distracted by her shirt. It was black, with big cuff sleeves that went over her hands and attached delicately over one middle finger. It looked so thoughtfully constructed that I had to ask who made it. She was thrilled to tell me it was Aenrmous, a Hong Kong label founded by designers K Cheang and Uia Kwok. Their style blends deconstructed tailoring with an industrial, technical edge – cutout trousers, layered vests, and convertible pieces that feel raw and unfinished by design. At the 10 Designers exhibition, I ran into Rainy again, who introduced me to the designers themselves. I also caught their work at Future Threads: Menswear New Waves Between Italy and Hong Kong, part of the Kingston Street Fashion Walk – where they showed an amazing cotton outfit dipped in wax.
Vivian Luk Atelier
Vivian Luk’s show at Virtuouse stood out immediately for its color and volume. Hong Kong-based and trained at Parsons in New York, Luk cut her teeth working for Vera Wang before returning home to build a name for herself in elaborate bridal and evening wear. That sculptural flair was on full display here – architectural silhouettes built from silk and heavy draping, with a richness of color that felt worlds away from typical bridal white. It’s easy to see why she’s now translating that same sensibility into ready-to-wear, because pieces this bold and considered deserve a life beyond the aisle.
Guillermo Décimo
The absolute standout for me from the Virtuouse show. Spanish designer Guillermo Décimo made the trip for Hong Kong Fashion Fest, and that same week, one of his outfits was featured in a Vogue Philippines shoot with Olivia Rodrigo. His creations are truly one of a kind – when I met him the next day, he walked me through the collection and told me how his mother, a musician, had helped sew feathers onto an ornate blue coat he’d created. The rest of the collection felt like haute couture steeped in history, with distinct Spanish references, beading, and 1950s couture-style tailoring, all finished off with exquisite hats by Rafa Peinador. Such a standout, such a talent – I expect we’ll see a lot more from him.
