Hong Kong Fashion Collection Award, a highlight of Hong Kong Fashion Week -- one of the world's leading fashion-industry sourcing events -- launched in Hong Kong Friday.

The Award, held for the sixth consecutive year, is a show-cum-contest that aims to encourage Hong Kong clothing enterprises to start their own collections and brands by working more closely with creative talents. With better and more marketable designs, Hong Kong clothing enterprises are strengthening their value-added service and raising their overall competitiveness.

Christine Au Yang, member of the Award's judging panel and also a model from Hong Kong, said the Hong Kong Fashion Week is "full of creativity and inspiration."

She emphasized market ability as "valuable". "I make the judgment not only on the design, but the demand of the market," she told Xinhua.

"I give 'Gone with the wind' the highest score, as I think it is wearable and marketable." Yang said.

Michael Lau, company representative and designer of Darkwater Denim Company Ltd., whose participating works "Gone with the wind" wins the top award -- Overall Winner Award, said he tries to balance design with commerce. "If my collection is in black color, it will be more marketable," he told Xinhua.

For this year's Award, all entrants grouped into three categories -- "Formal Attire", "Office Attire" and "Casual & Jeans-wear". Totally 11 clothing businesses and young designers strut their creative and marketable collections during the Award.

Other four prizes include "Formal Attire Category Winner", which is taken by "Heavenly Creatures" from Advantage Creation Company; "Office Attire Category Winner", won by "Old ladies make me crazy" from Timbee Lo Company; "Casual & Jeans-wear Category Winner" and "Lectra Award for Best Application of Technology" won by "The Muse from Space" from Eternity Fashion Company.

The four-day Hong Kong Fashion Week, organized by Hong Kong Trade Development Council, began here Tuesday.

Since its debut, Hong Kong Fashion Week has become an international modish event where industry players converge to promote fashion-related products and services, and tune in to global trends.

Hong Kong Fashion Week provided an opportunity to connect with local garment houses and fashion companies from around the world. A total of 1,100 exhibitors, 22 percent more than last year, from 25 countries and regions participated this year's fair.

Totally six catwalk shows and four seminars have been staged during the fair, providing a trade information platform for the latest industry developments and trends.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2006)