The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware and Toys will be a 'golden opportunity' for companies to restock for Christmas and New Year. Raymond Yip, assistant executive director of HKTDC, the event's organiser, said, despite the economic downturn, the fair was an important sourcing platform for buyers worldwide, and last-minute orders were expected for the holiday season. The show, at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, runs from today until Thursday and features more than 400 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions. New countries exhibiting include Denmark, France and Pakistan, with Asia-Pacific countries playing a major part in the show. Taiwan, the mainland, South Korea, the Philippines and the Hong Kong Exporters' Association again have their own pavilions. Held concurrently is the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2010, also at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Fashion Week features more than 1,100 exhibitors, with the mainland the biggest. Similar to the Summer Sourcing Show, the mainland, India Macau and Taiwan will have their own pavilions this year, while Bangladesh makes its debut. Mr Yip said the HKTDC created an assistance package to ensure the number and quality of buyers at its fairs, and to help local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The HKTDC launched a HK$120 million assistance package last November to attract buyers and help local companies. The package was divided into three parts: trade buyers' incentive programme, subsidies for local exhibitors at HKTDC trade fairs in Hong Kong, and special offers to help SMEs market their products and services through the HKTDC's online platform and product magazines. The package had been successful in helping Hong Kong companies compete amid the economic turmoil by participating in HKTDC trade fairs, Mr Yip said. The organiser has also introduced other incentives to further enhance the two shows. The major exhibition categories in the Summer Sourcing Show are Advertising Premiums, Gift Ideas, Dining and Cooking, Designers' Corner, Home Living, Home Teach, Style and D?cor, Fun and Play, Costume Jewellery and Ladies' World. And there is the Treasure Island section which features a range of branded products that stand out in design, innovation and craftsmanship. Famous local brands this year include HOMADE and COLOR RICH, and Taiwanese brands, TALES, Giimmo MAGIC LIGHT, are also featured . Three seminars will be held for the Summer Sourcing Show headed by 'Successful Branding in the International Market of Gifts' with Alan Yip. Mr Yip is an international award-winning product designer who founded Yip Design. Apart from serving well-known clients, Philips and Nintendo, Mr Yip launched his own brand, ALANYIP, of lifestyle products. Fashion Week will also feature special galleries, product zones and shows. The Hong Kong New Design Force opening presentation features creations from previous winners and finalists of the Hong Kong Young Designers Contest. The presentation comprises two fashion shows and one lifestyle exhibition under the theme 'Cross Vision, New Mission', which hopes to pass on the message of rebellion against opulence and create a path for self-discovery. The fashion shows take place today and Wednesday, and the lifestyle exhibition displaying masterpieces of street art, interior design, illustration, photography and glass sculpture is on throughout the event. Two new zones at Fashion Week are Brand Name Gallery and Intimate Wear. Special product zones are Bridal and Evening Wear, Fabrics and Yarn, Fashion Gallery, Infant and Children's Wear and Sewing Supplies. There are also an International Fashion Designers' Showcase and World of Fashion Accessories. Clothing company Stylesight is holding a seminar at Fashion Week on Wednesday on accessories trends for next year's autumn/winter. Renee Labbe, vice-president of Stylesight's global trends department, said there would be four major styles and designs for next year's summer/spring clothing collection. The Bayou style includes classic suiting fabrics with generous floral prints and authentic workwear pieces. The Sanctuary design consists of meditative draping and silhouettes inspired by nature to provide maximum comfort. The Subversion design concept plays with exaggerated lines and extreme proportions. And Jubilation designs of prints and graphics create vibrant and exuberant looks that are sure to be a hit this season. Another seminar speaker, Mary Chan Yan-yan, director of StyleCENTRAL and business partner of Peclers Paris: Hong Kong/Singapore/Thailand, said fashion styles were based on real-life situations and, because of the economic crisis, the styles of clothes were a mixture of 'fantasy' and 'authentic'. The fantasy style of sparkles and sequins represents peoples' hopes and dreams for a better economic future. The authentic style of durable clothing represents the realistic moods of people who acknowledge that the economy is not going to heal in the short term. Ms Chan said another trend was for 'intelligent' clothing products, or multifunctional clothing. This style is becoming more popular because of society's concerns for the environment and people being less willing to spend money on clothes.