Asia Fashion Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 53 Week of 23 February 2026
(1) Hong Kong jewellery sales sparkle amid 13% jump in mainland Chinese visitors
Mainland visitor arrivals to Hong Kong surged 13% during the Lunar New Year, boosting jewellery and cosmetics sales despite soaring gold prices, though economists noted that overall retail recovery remains uneven.
(2) Anta launches 1st directly operated US store in Beverly Hills
Anta’s new flagship store in Beverly Hills marks the Chinese sportswear brand’s shift to a direct-to-consumer model, showcasing its blend of Chinese design and global appeal
(3) Dior opens the Dior Bamboo Pavilion in Tokyo
Dior’s new Bamboo Pavilion in Tokyo’s Daikanyama district blends French elegance with Japanese artistry
(4) Chet Lo Brings Hong Kong Night Markets To London Fashion Week
Chet Lo’s latest collection transforms the energy of Hong Kong’s night markets into bold, theatrical fashion while fostering community through a London showcase.
(1) Hong Kong jewellery sales sparkle amid 13% jump in mainland Chinese visitors
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year holiday saw a notable 13% increase in visitors from mainland China compared with last year, bringing more than one million mainland tourists into the city and giving a boost to retail spending. According to industry representatives and government data, the surge in arrivals translated into stronger sales for certain sectors, particularly jewellery and cosmetics, though the overall economic recovery remained uneven across industries. Retail lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai said gold jewellery sales rose around 10 per cent despite a sharp increase in global gold prices, as businesses adjusted by offering smaller, more affordable pieces to attract buyers.
Gold prices have rallied dramatically over the past year, surpassing US$5,000 per ounce in early 2026. Although this has discouraged the sale of heavy, high-priced items, steady foot traffic and a focused customer base have sustained demand for jewellery. The biggest surprise of the festive season came from the cosmetics sector, which reported a 40 to 50 per cent surge in sales, surpassing forecasts and reflecting strong purchasing power among mainland visitors. Luxury boutiques in shopping districts such as Tsim Sha Tsui also saw longer queues, while demand for watches grew modestly, driven by loyal collectors purchasing high-end timepieces despite softer interest in mid-range products.
Economists observed that Hong Kong’s retail landscape is shifting alongside evolving consumer behaviour. Gary Ng of Natixis said Hong Kong retained competitive advantages in certain luxury sectors such as gold and cosmetics because of its credibility and quality, but other retail categories, including restaurants and consumer electronics, continued to face pressure from cross-border e-commerce and outbound spending. With many Hongkongers choosing to travel during the holiday, outbound trips topped 2.09 million, up 4% year-on-year, highlighting a split between inbound tourism-related gains and domestic spending leakage.
Cross-border traffic also hit record highs under the northbound travel scheme, which allows Hong Kong vehicles to enter Zhuhai and Macau. During the nine-day holiday period, more than 567,000 Hong Kong and Macau residents crossed the border, while daily northbound vehicle crossings surpassed 13,000 for several consecutive days, peaking at 15,400. Analysts say that although tourism-driven consumption has buoyed parts of Hong Kong’s retail economy, sustained growth will depend on diversifying consumption patterns and improving competitiveness in sectors still lagging behind visitor-led recovery.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344261/hong-kong-jewellery-sales-sparkle-amid-13pc-jump-mainland-chinese-visitors
(2) Anta launches 1st directly operated US store in Beverly Hills
(Photo Credit: Anta)
Chinese sportswear giant Anta has launched its first directly operated store in North America, opening a 3,000-square-foot flagship in Beverly Hills as part of a strategic shift toward a direct-to-consumer retail model. The move marks a departure from the company’s traditional reliance on overseas distributors, allowing Anta to assert greater control over its brand narrative, consumer engagement, and innovation strategy. The new approach, termed the “Brand + Retail” model, positions Anta alongside established global competitors such as Nike, Adidas, and Lululemon, while highlighting its Chinese roots and design philosophy.
The Beverly Hills store represents more than a sales outlet. It’s a statement of Anta’s cultural and creative identity. Its design blends modern American lifestyle elements with “Eastern aesthetics,” featuring minimalist architecture and red accents symbolic of the brand’s heritage. Product displays spotlight Anta’s performance and lifestyle lines, including the Kai series, the Hela collection, and technologically advanced sportswear emphasizing “Intelligent Manufacturing from China.” Through this concept, Anta aims to demonstrate that Chinese-made products can align with the standards of premium international markets while carrying a distinct cultural narrative.
The store launch also aligns with Anta’s deepening ties to professional sports and athlete-driven marketing. The brand celebrated the opening with appearances from NBA stars Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, both long-term brand partners, and previewed Thompson’s new signature line available exclusively through the flagship. In addition to showcasing athletic and lifestyle apparel, Anta plans to host sports-related community events, workshops, and cultural experiences aimed at building brand loyalty among American consumers and promoting greater cultural exchange through design and performance.
News ource: https://jingdaily.com/posts/anta-launches-1st-directly-operated-us-store-in-beverly-hills
(3) Dior opens the Dior Bamboo Pavilion in Tokyo
(Photo Credit: Fasionnetwork)
Dior unveiled the Bamboo Pavilion in Tokyo’s Daikanyama district. The golden bamboo exterior reimagines the facade of its historic Paris Montaigne townhouse. It evokes Japanese forests while honoring founder Christian Dior’s passion for nature.
The expansive 1,800 square meter space functions as a serene garden retreat. Features include a Zen garden by Seijun Nishihata, koi pond in glass, indoor greenery by Azuma Makoto, and a sculptural teahouse by Kodai Iwamoto. Japanese crafts blend with Dior motifs like lucky stars and Versailles parquet.
Shoppers explore full ready-to-wear lines by Jonathan Anderson, plus leather goods, shoes, accessories, and jewelry. A customization salon highlights iconic designs. Café Dior serves an exclusive menu by Michelin-starred chef Anne-Sophie Pic amid floral installations.
News Source: https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/Dior-opens-the-dior-bamboo-pavilion-in-tokyo,1809536.html
(4) Chet Lo Brings Hong Kong Night Markets To London Fashion Week
(Photo Credit: Vogue)
Chet Lo’s most recent collection takes inspiration from Hong Kong’s storied night markets, reimagining their colour, chaos, and sense of performance into a fashion narrative that bridges nostalgia with modern identity. Having revisited the city with fresh eyes, Lo captured the energy of its neon-lined streets and infused it into dramatic silhouettes that echoed both Peking opera’s theatrical flair and Wong Kar-wai’s cinematic romanticism. His designs highlight the duality of tradition and innovation, turning everyday urban vibrancy into contemporary couture rooted in cultural storytelling.
The runway featured a balance of sensuality and structure, with spiked merino knits, feathery accents, and sheer, form-revealing textiles that embodied self-confidence and movement. Lo aimed to capture the joy of physicality, clothing that encourages expression rather than mere display. Each piece suggested empowerment and self-awareness, with the designer emphasizing that his focus lay not on provocation but on asserting presence and individuality through design. His approach merged artistry with a celebration of identity, challenging conventional ideas of Asian representation in fashion.
For the show’s staging, Lo recreated a Hong Kong-style night market inside London’s Mandarin Oriental, inviting East and Southeast Asian creatives to present their work alongside his own. The event served both as a fashion showcase and a cultural gathering, with proceeds donated to the Asian People’s Disability Alliance, where Lo volunteers. The initiative extended beyond fashion into a statement of community and representation, reinforcing a growing movement in London’s creative scene that uses collaboration and cultural hybridity as vehicles for empowerment and inclusion.
News Source: https://www.voguehk.com/en/article/runway/chet-lo-fall-2026
