KIT WAN STUDIOS, a multidisciplinary design and visual art studio led by Hong Kong-born creative director and visual artist Kit Wan, will headline the CENTRESTAGE ELITES runway show on September 2, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), is a core part of the third edition of “Hong Kong Fashion Fest.” CENTRESTAGE runs from September 2 to 5 and is a key highlight of the Asian fashion scene.
For the opening show, KIT WAN STUDIOS will present a forthcoming collection that fuses sci-fi inspirations with mechanical aesthetics, blurring the boundaries between collectable and wearable fashion. The studio is known for merging manga and mythology with bespoke, highly detailed metalwork, multimedia installations, and cinematic garment design. Kit Wan’s unique “abstract reality” approach spans one-of-a-kind costume design to permanent museum exhibits.
This year’s CENTRESTAGE ELITES marks a homecoming for the studio. “It feels like ‘THE’ moment for my work to come from my clearest voice, from my clearest mind,” said Wan. “I am grateful to my collaborators (famous and otherwise) but with any partnership it is a shared vision. This collection is from my heart, my voice – so completely – and I am excited to share that with my hometown of Hong Kong.”
Wan’s journey began with a major in knitwear design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University before extending his footprint to Amsterdam, after a short stint in London where he worked with British luminaries. He later relocated to Oslo, Norway, where he completed an MA in fashion design and began exploring the space between art and fashion. Wan is the first fashion designer to receive the “Young Artist Award” from the Norwegian government, and his creations are in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Norway. In 2025, the studio was selected by Fashion Asia Hong Kong as the sole Hong Kong representative among its “2025 10 Asian Designers to Watch.”
As a performative costume designer and scenographer, Wan treats sets and lighting as a collaborative canvas, interweaving music, mood, and entertainment elements. His stage armour designs have been featured at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and Eurovision in the United Kingdom, allowing Hong Kong design to shine on global stages. Simultaneously, the studio remains deeply rooted in Cantopop, collaborating with local superstars such as Aaron Kwok, Hins Cheung, MC Cheung, Miriam Yeung, Nicholas Tse, and Panther Chan. Overseas clients include Alan Cumming, Warhol icon Cherry Vanilla, singer/songwriter Teddy Swims, and numerous Scandinavian pop stars.
The CENTRESTAGE ELITES show will also feature a sharing session where Wan offers insights from his creative journey, alongside a showcase of innovative designs. The fair will include curated thematic zones, fashion parades, and industry seminars covering sustainable fashion and the application of artificial intelligence in fashion design. Global fashion leaders, sustainable fashion pioneers, and technology experts will gather to explore cutting-edge topics, challenging conventional boundaries and inspiring future development across Asia and the world.
Further details of this year’s event will be announced at a press conference on August 20. For more information, visit the CENTRESTAGE website and the CENTRESTAGE ELITES page.
