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, held in Hong Kong, showcased the city’s strengths as an international trade hub and provided a platform for cross-sector collaboration.
The lifestyle fairs included the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, which drew over 32,000 buyers; Home InStyle, attracting some 20,000 buyers; and Fashion InStyle, gathering around 12,000 buyers. The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong saw over 9,600 buyers. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) attracted over 21,000 buyers, and the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) featured over 20 international licensing industry leaders as speakers.
Non-local buyers primarily came from Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and Japan, with significant growth in buyer numbers from the Philippines, Canada, and Türkiye, underscoring the fairs' strong international appeal.
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.”
According to a survey conducted by HKTDC of 1,541 exhibitors and buyers during the Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, and Fashion InStyle, nearly half (49.0%) of respondents expected their overall sales to rise in the next one to two years, while 44.6% foresaw sales remaining stable. The greatest operational challenges identified were fluctuations of global economy (47.8%), conflict-led crisis (37.2%), and growing protectionist measures (33.7%).
Respondents believed sales prospects are promising or very promising over the next two years in ASEAN countries (69.0%), Taiwan (67.9%), India (66.7%), Korea (65.2%), and Chinese Mainland (63.0%). Exhibitors are actively exploring markets including Europe (34.0%), ASEAN countries (18.3%), North America (16.0%), Middle East (13.6%), and Australia (12.8%).
Product trends indicated strong growth potential in cultural gifts (19.7%), sustainable gifts (18.6%), and tech gifts (18.6%) in the gifts and premiums market. In furniture and home products, designer furniture (27.3%), interior decoration (27.1%), and smart home technology (23.0%) were top. In fashion, designer clothing (42.4%), urban clothing (34.5%), and womenswear (31.9%) led.
Cross-sector opportunities were evident as Semk Holdings International Limited, a major character IP licensing player, showcased B.Duck co-branded IP products at the Gifts & Premium Fair, connecting with buyers from Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The UAE made its debut at the fair; Alpha Art from Dubai anticipated potential orders around US$1 million.
The Gifts & Premium Fair also sealed three MOUs: the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanxi Provincial Committee and Fujian Sub-Council signed agreements with HKTDC to encourage enterprises to “go global.” The Busan Economic Promotion Agency signed an MOU to promote Busan gift products internationally.
Fashion InStyle featured the NEXT@Fashion InStyle zone with over 60 new material exhibitors. Textile Library from Hangzhou showcased warp-print fabrics and ice-crack series, drawing strong interest. New High Limited, a local exhibitor, connected with 50 potential buyers from Dubai and North Africa, expecting total orders of about US$100,000.
Home InStyle introduced innovative materials for homeware. Lotux International Holdings presented biodegradable cutlery from lotus stems and deodorising cat litter from lotus fibre. allcareAI Limited debuted an infection-prevention mobile toilet, receiving over 20 enquiries from care homes and partners from Chinese Mainland, Japan, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair attracted global buyers. Hot Packaging LLC from the Middle East sourced eco-friendly packaging solutions, expecting initial trial orders of US$35,000 to US$75,000. W.H.Y. Brand Consultancy Limited participated in DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong for the first time, connecting with printers and design firms and expecting to generate around US$400,000 in business.
At the Hong Kong International Licensing Show, Postgal Workshop reached an agreement with Malaysia-based M&M Creations Holdings, involving IP “Din Dong,” estimated to be worth over US$200,000. At the Asian Licensing Conference, Maura Regan, President and CEO of Licensing International, stated: “The licensing industry is not slowing down. Consumers continue to demand immersive experiences, from theme parks to branded hotels to pop-up shops to retail experiences.”
These events underscore Hong Kong's role as a dynamic trade platform, offering global businesses cross-sector opportunities to explore new markets and drive growth.
