Decades ago, Hong Kong was a low-cost manufacturing centre, not taken seriously on the international stage for fashion. But as trade grew between the region and Europe, and as Hong Kong’s long legacy of tailoring turned into an opportunity for haute couture, the demand for local fashion slowly grew. In the 1990s, fresh graduates from design schools starting setting up showrooms in tiny rented spaces located in high-traffic shopping areas throughout the city. As the years went by, these local designers rose up the ranks in the fashion world and emerged as new, homegrown style-makers. Together, a collective Hong Kong style with an unsurpassed attention to detail and a unique blend of east-meets-west and traditional-meets-contemporary took centre stage. Today, many Hong Kong designers make only a few pieces in each style to custom-fit their clientele. With a growing demand for such originality and an increasingly affluent China market, Hong Kong is now becoming a hub for high-end design.

The new generation of designers - some born in Hong Kong and others educated here - are making international names for themselves in the city, rather than first having to gain recognition overseas, like native design icon Vivienne Tam did when she moved to New York City after graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This city is now obsessed with style and glamour, and local designers have become fashion royalty. So who are these designers and what have they done for collective Hong Kong fashion?

The first group of local designers is a well-established bunch. With a multitude of awards and recognition, placement in reputable retailers such as Harvey Nichols and Lane Crawford, and a presence in international fashion shows, these top designers are spreading Hong Kong’s style all over the world. In May 2010, Style Hong Kong, a fashion show presented by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council at the Shanghai Expo, featured three such artists: Lu Lu Cheng, a Hong Kong Institute of Fashion Design graduate whose design caters to contemporary executive women from a wide age range; Hidy Ng, born and raised in Hong Kong with collections based on simple, body-enhancing silhouettes for women; and Henry Lau, a former costume designer whose latest collection portrays Hong Kong’s Central district and its high-rise buildings after dark. Other recognised Hong Kong designers include those at the high-end China-chic label Shanghai Tang, owned by the illustrious David Tang, Douglas Young of contemporary Chinese homewares store, G.O.D., and evening wear and bridal designer Dorian Ho. Together, these designers have put Hong Kong on the map for cutting-edge fashion and design.

The second group of fashion-forward designers is paving its way locally using innovation and grassroots inspiration. They are putting a new twist on the east-meets-west tag that marks Hong Kong fashion, and many have the potential to grow into style celebrities. Although they may be harder to find, a visit to one of their showrooms - if they have one - is worth it if you want a truly one-of-a-kind piece to bring home. One of the leaders of this group is Kanchan Panjabi, who returned to Hong Kong from London to launch her own luxury women's-wear label, Kanchan Couture, inspired by her Indian background. Others consist of a new crop of mainly online retailers, such as jeweller Tricia Yap of Bejewelled Bespoke, who sells her designs on Etsy and at local crafts markets; Lola & Syd, whose array of stylish accessories is becoming quite coveted; and Pearly, a couture handbag and jewellery designer. For many visitors, these names do not ring a bell, but their designs are a sample of what is driving the local style scene.

The Hong Kong government and other regional leaders recognise the potential of homegrown designers, and are supporting some of this start-up creativity through initiatives such as the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, a multi-disciplinary artists’ village converted from a decommissioned factory estate in Kowloon. The Shanghai Expo has also been a great venue for Hong Kong fashion. The Hong Kong Design Centre has organised an exhibition there that runs until October 31 called Hong Kong: Creative Ecologies — Business, Living, Creativity that highlights the innovation, competitive edge, multiculturalism and entrepreneurial spirit of Hong Kong designers of all types, not just fashion. In October, there will be another Hong Kong fashion show at the expo, followed by a three-week Fashion Visionaries Exhibition as well as a Style Hong Kong Show.

Visitors often remark on how novel local Hong Kong styles are. This is not surprising, as the city is a blend of so many different influences, from past to present and east to west. For visitors looking for a special piece of the city, look no further than its local style leaders and their detailed creations.

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