Hong Kong to boost its fashion industry in partnership with Korea
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Jerry Liu
By Kim Jae-heun
HONG KONG ― The Hong Kong government has decided to provide additional support for emerging Hong Kong fashion brands in Korea over the next three years, said Jerry Liu, the head of Create Hong Kong (CreateHK).
CreateHK is the dedicated office set up by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to spearhead the development of creative industries in the region.
“My office CreateHK is, at the moment, overseeing the entire promotion of Hong Kong fashion,” said Liu during an interview with The Korea Times, last Wednesday. “I need to spend more time to understand the policies in other parts of Asia and around the world in terms of government support devoted to promoting their own fashion and design industries. And South Korea, of course, is important to us.”
Liu said he is particularly interested in Korea because it shares a similar history with Hong Kong from the late 50s and early 60s.
“Textiles are the first step leading to the fashion industry. And both South Korea and Hong Kong have that strong tradition of manufacturing high quality fabrics. Of course, the fashion industries of both nations at this point have the knowhow and experience to produce full lines and set the pace with worldwide fashion trends. Both are attracting a strong core of talented young people,” said Liu.
“I think we are putting more emphasis on designer brands at the moment. But we are not ruling out the promotion of company brands either,” he added.
The head of CreateHK hinted that Hong Kong designers will visit Seoul at the end of April to meet with their counterparts in Korea and learn from each other as he believes that more exchanges between the two countries is important. Also, Liu hopes that cooperation with the Korean fashion industry will continue to increase
Liu joined the office in March, 2010, taking responsibility for formulating policies, strategies and initiatives for the development of creative industries. He also collaborates with other organizations to provide a one-stop service for their promotion.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So arrived in Korea yesterday to participate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Creative Content Agency and with two more Korean organizations for exchanges with the Police Married Quarters Management Company Limited of Hong Kong.
So and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jong-deok signed an MOU on Co-operation in Creative Industries in 2014, which paved the way for bilateral collaboration.
Kim and So will exchange views on issues of mutual interest. The secretary will visit the CEL Venture Complex, one of the latest projects for creative industries in Seoul, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the landmark of Korean fashion and design.
He also plans to visit a K-pop dance school and an academy for young aspiring K-pop artists.