Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2008, Asia's largest fashion fair, opened today featuring 1,490 exhibitors from around the world. The fair continues through January 17 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

World Boutique, Hong Kong, which runs concurrently with Fashion Week for Fall/Winter, has attracted 366 brands and 255 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions. The two high-style fashion fairs are organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC).

Following last year's success, Emporium de Mode, the Infant & Children's Wear Zone and Spice Arena are again being staged. Infant & Children's Wear Zone caters to greater buyer interest in this market sector. Emporium de Mode spotlights premium clothing with exquisite designs, while Spice Arena offers a vast range of fashion accessories.

Joining them are four well-established theme areas: the Body & Intimate Wear Zone; Bridal & Evening Wear Zone; Garment & Accessories Mart; and Fashion Gallery, which spotlights high-end global fashion.

The TDC has organised 71 missions with nearly 3,400 buyers from around the world for Fashion Week, along with 70 missions and close to 2,400 buyers for World Boutique. Among them are buying representatives from a wide variety of fashion brands and leading chain stores and distributors, including: Australia's Zip Fashion House and Pacific Brands; Brazil's Lojas Renner; Canada's Marie Claire Boutique; Japan's Indepp Co Ltd and Mitsukoshi; Italy's Lotto; Spain's Mango and Cortefiel; and the United States' Walmart.

The 39th Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter features exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, with Israel participating for the first time. There are also group pavilions being hosted by the Chinese mainland, India, Korea, Macau and Taiwan.

Dedicated to fashion brands around the world, the 6th World Boutique showcases the latest fashion brand collections, including apparel, watches, shoes, fashion jewellery, home fashion and lifestyle products. Countries and regions taking part include Hong Kong, Australia, the Chinese mainland, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, the Philippines, Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and the US.

Alongside fashion shows and parades, the TDC has organised a variety of seminars to provide industry players with the latest market intelligence. Hot topics this year include fashion directions, colour and fabric trends and branding strategies, as well as business opportunities in the US and Korean fashion markets.