Sixteen up-and-coming companies, most of them from Asia, are showcasing their products in the new Designers' Gallery at the Asia Pacific Leather Fair.
'This is the first time we have had the Designers' Gallery at the fair. The aim is to give companies known for original designs a bit more exposure,' said Perrine Ardouin, senior event manager for Asia Pacific Leather Fair, the organiser.
Companies from Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea and France are taking part. They are showing leather garments, footwear, luggage and handbags.
'The rest of the fair is divided according to products, but in the Designers' Gallery we wanted to have an assortment of different items,' Ms Ardouin said. 'We tried to pick companies that are not so well known, but the main criteria for all of them was original design.'
Some of the companies are known for leather items while others specialise in plastic, rattan or aluminium goods.
Hong Kong-based Quintana (Hong Kong), a manufacturer of medium-priced leather and non-leather fashion handbags, expects business at the fair to be brisk.
'We believe a lot of buyers and wholesalers will come,' said Serena Fok Fung-bing, general manager of the 10-year-old company.