Young Hong Kong designers make debut at Hong Kong Fashion Week

Hong Kong's Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC), to be held on January 20 as part of Hong Kong Fashion Week, is widely considered a launch pad for emerging local designers and a platform to display the city's diverse creative talents.

A total of 16 finalists will be fighting for the spotlight, competing in categories such as contemporary day wear, party and evening wear, and overall winner. An accessories category has also been added this year.

"YDC will encourage new designers to achieve their goals," says fashion stylist Grace Lam, who is one of the judges this year. "The competition is quite strong."

The entries highlight the diversity of creative talent found in Hong Kong. One of the contestants, Anki Ng, has submitted an elaborate entry titled Paper Magic. The dress is inspired by the intricate art of paper-cutting, working with what is traditionally a two-dimensional material and morphing it into a three-dimensional piece.

In contrast, an entry by Li In Kwan titled Error is an unconventional experiment in both fabric development and silhouette. Inspired by deformed objects and structures, Kwan worked with fabric that has a cracked, wrinkled motif. The result is a rough and jagged study of geometry.