HiSeoul Showroom's collaborative show with actor and artist Park Shin-yang / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Over the past decade, Seoul’s ambitious public fashion incubator has quietly transformed homegrown talent into global runway contenders. Now, HiSeoul Showroom is taking its biggest international victory lap yet.
Marking its 10th anniversary, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that 12 emerging designer brands nurtured by HiSeoul Showroom will make their collective debut at Asia’s premiere fashion trade show CENTRESTAGE in Hong Kong, running Sept. 2 to 5 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The milestone comes as Korea has been named the event’s official Country of Honor for the first time. Operating under the theme "SEOUListic: The Future is Sustainable," the 12 selected labels — including doucan, RE RHEE and HOLYNUMBER7 — will present a unified pavilion, host a joint runway show and conduct targeted buyer networking to expand their global reach.
Launched in 2016 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, HiSoul Showroom was built as a comprehensive launchpad for emerging designers, offering help with everything from buyer matchmaking and international trade shows to high-profile brand collaborations. Since 2018, the platform has supported over 100 brands annually, generating an average of over 10 billion won ($7.2 million) in annual sales and securing approximately 9 billion won in international buyer deals over the past decade.
