Neon Nights and Jump Scares: Hong Kong Designers Find Inspiration in Local Horror Films
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
CENTRESTAGE, Asia's premier fashion fair, returns to Hong Kong on September 2, showcasing more than 270 brands from 24 countries and regions. Local designers are drawing inspiration from the city's distinctive culture, including 1980s and '90s horror films and neon-lit streets. The event will feature a record 30-plus runway shows, with four Hong Kong labels presenting at the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show on September 3.
Key Points
- Four local fashion labels — ANGUS TSUI, ARTY:ACTIVE, Z I D I and 112 mountainyam — will present at the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show themed "Hong Kong Dopamine" on September 3
- Designer Angus Tsui's spring/summer 2027 collection "404: Ha Ha Haunting" pays tribute to Hong Kong horror movies from the 1980s and '90s, with interactive runway performance
- Tsui explains the brain releases dopamine while watching horror movies, creating excitement while remaining in a safe environment, which inspires his design work
- Gary Tsang's sportswear label ARTY:ACTIVE presents the "Messy Symphonic" series, blending Hong Kong's nightscape and local culture into activewear
- ARTY:ACTIVE has collaborated with a mainland Chinese car brand, with a special-edition vehicle featuring the brand's pattern displayed at their booth on September 3
Why It Matters
The event provides a vital platform for local designers to gain international exposure amid challenging personal circumstances for some. Hong Kong's fashion industry continues to transform the city's unique cultural elements — from horror cinema to neon nightscapes — into globally appealing fashion statements.
The event provides a vital platform for local designers to gain international exposure amid challenging personal circumstances for some. Hong Kong's fashion industry continues to transform the city's unique cultural elements — from horror cinema to neon nightscapes — into globally appealing fashion statements.