The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today successfully concluded seven flagship lifestyle and licensing events, attracting over 95,000 buyers from 134 countries and regions for sourcing and business negotiations. Among the lifestyle fairs, the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair attracted over 32,000 buyers, Home InStyle drew some 20,000 buyers, and Fashion InStyle gathered some 12,000 buyers. The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong saw over 9,600 buyers, while the Hong Kong International Licensing Show attracted over 21,000 buyers. 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, while connecting exhibitors with international buyers and partners to unlock business opportunities.”
A survey of 1,541 exhibitors and buyers during the Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, and Fashion InStyle found that nearly half (49.0%) expected overall sales to rise in the next one to two years. Respondents believed sales prospects are promising or very promising in ASEAN countries (69.0%), Taiwan (67.9%), India (66.7%), Korea (65.2%), and Chinese Mainland (63.0%). In the gifts and premiums market, cultural gifts (19.7%), sustainable gifts (18.6%), and tech gifts (18.6%) were seen as having the strongest growth potential.
Cross-sector opportunities helped exhibitors tap into new markets. Semk Holdings International Limited, a major player in character IP licensing, showcased B.Duck co-branded products and connected with buyers from Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The UAE made its debut at the Gifts & Premium Fair, with Alpha Art anticipating potential orders totaling around US$1 million. The fair also saw three MOUs signed, including with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanxi Provincial Committee and Fujian Sub-Council, as well as the Busan Economic Promotion Agency.
Fashion InStyle featured the returning NEXT@Fashion InStyle zone with over 60 new material exhibitors. Textile Library from Hangzhou returned after connecting with a Thai exhibitor last year and collaborated with Hong Kong designer brand Ponder.er. Mary Ma, Founder of Textile Library, stated: “This year, we have brought two latest self-developed materials to Hong Kong, warp-print fabrics and the ice-crack series of crackle finishing. The materials drew strong interest and praise from international buyers and have already yielded several concrete cooperation intentions.”
Home InStyle introduced innovative materials, including Hong Kong exhibitor Lotux International Holdings Co. Limited's biodegradable cutlery and food containers made from lotus stems. Daphne Wan, Sales Director, said: “Our innovative eco-friendly materials and pet products attracted strong interest from visitors. We are currently in discussions with a houseware company on the joint development of eco-friendly straws.” The fair also featured gerontechnology exhibitor allcareAI Limited, which debuted an infection-prevention mobile toilet. CEO Phil Woo stated: “In the first two days alone, we received over 20 enquiries, including from local care homes and potential partners from Chinese Mainland, Japan, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia.”
Buyers affirmed the fairs as efficient sourcing platforms. Henry Huang, Vice President of Global Product Development at Umbra Ltd, a Canadian buyer at Home InStyle, identified around 20 potential suppliers and expected total orders up to US$100,000. Jaime Gonzalez, Commercial Director of Mexico's Promo Life, revealed plans to spend US$200,000 on keychains and magnets from a Hong Kong exhibitor. At the Licensing Show, Hong Kong exhibitor Postgal Workshop reached an agreement with Malaysia's M&M Creations Holdings 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.”
