A landmark celebration of fashion, sports and urban culture
HONG KONG, Nov. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) proudly presented "HONG KONG FASYNATES 2025: Fashion x Sports" - a large-scale fashion-sports extravaganza jointly organised by its School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT), Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), and Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) - at the Central Square of Kai Tak Sports Park from 22 to 23 November. The two-day event transformed the City into a stage where fashion and creativity blend with the spirit of sports, showcasing Hong Kong's dynamic landscape and leadership in two vital industries: fashion and sports.
HONG KONG FASYNATES represents a fusion of fashion, synergy with the suffix "-NATES", emphasising how fashion creates synergy with other industries. Themed "Fashion x Sports", the event has fostered collaboration among fashion and sportswear industry leaders, key brands and creative talents, building a dynamic ecosystem across different industries while energising the City with vibrant activities.
On the opening day (22 November), the "Move to Light" digital illumination show—created by world-renowned lighting designer and winner of the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2021, Mr Tino KWAN—wowed the audience. The illumination ceremony was officiated by Miss Rosanna LAW, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Miss Drew LAI, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of the Government of the HKSAR; Ms WANG Xin, former Olympic diving gold medalist and Sports Advisor of RISports; Dr Daniel LEE, Associate Director, Elite Training Science & Technology of the Hong Kong Sport Institute; Prof. Erin CHO, Dean of SFT; Prof. Ming ZHANG, Director of RISports; Tyson Yoshi, Founder of Triplet; Mr Joe WONG, Director of Open Dialogue, as well as sports brand representatives and a group of young local designers. Together, they activated the digital illumination installation, the glowing lights symbolising Hong Kong's growing prominence in fashion-tech integration and urban lifestyle design.
Following the illumination ceremony, five talented bachelor's degree alumni from SFT—all finalists in the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest—presented a fashion show that merged sports aesthetics with high-end fashion. They are Wilson Yip (2015 graduate), Catherine Hui (2024 graduate), Einar Lai (2024 graduate), Murfi Lau (2015 graduate) and Yoyo Chan (2022 graduate). Their five collections, themed around car racing, running, fitness and gym, street dance, and road running and hiking respectively, reflected the synergy of movement and design, while also showcasing the versatility required to thrive at the intersection of casual-wear, streetwear and performance gear.
The evening concluded with the "Skate to Style" performance by the All Hong Kong Skateboarders Association (AHKSA), where talented skateboarders, performing in designs curated by Prof. HUANG Tsai-Chun, Assistant Professor of SFT, combined athletic skill and artistry to rousing applause.
On 23 November, the "HONG KONG FASYNATES Bazaar" transformed Central Square into a vibrant playground for fashion and sports enthusiasts. It featured 16 lifestyle and fashion brands across 11 booths hosted by various lifestyle and fashion brand and independent local labels, all contributing to a lively and inspiring marketplace atmosphere. Visitors also enjoyed the "PROFASHION Live Interviews", featuring brand founders and company directors who discussed how design innovation and sustainability influence latest fashion and lifestyle trends. AHKSA also hosted skateboarding competitions and lessons, while a professional hair and makeup agency, a fashion brand and the online platform FASHIONALLY jointly led interactive Fashion Experience Workshops, offering hands-on opportunities to explore urban sports, creative styling and beauty techniques. The event concluded with dynamic performances by the Hong Kong Rope Skipping Club and dancers from ROSEMAESE and YouniverS, whose energetic rhythms and youthful vitality brought the event to a perfect close.
Through an engaging mix of runway showcases, live performances and interactive experiences, HONG KONG FASYNATES embodied the vitality, creativity and collaborative spirit of local fashion and sports industries. It also offered a new stage for designers, athletes and brands to explore how fashion captures movement and urban identity, reflecting Hong Kong's spirit of innovation and energy, and redefining Hong Kong's position as Asia's creative capital.
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PolyU presents "HONG KONG FASYNATES 2025: Fashion x Sports"
Key regional events bring Together Industry Leaders to Advance Dialogue Across the Food and Feed Value Chain
BANGKOK, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeast Asia's food, feed, and agricultural trade community gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, for two key industry events hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the S.E. Asia U.S. Agricultural Cooperators Conference and the Asia Soy Excellence & Food Summit. Together, the events brought together U.S. farmers, exporters, industry leaders, and regional stakeholders to exchange insights, strengthen partnerships, and explore opportunities shaping the future of food and agriculture in Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia remains a key growth market for U.S. Soy, fueled by increasing demand across both feed and food sectors. In Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25, the region imported 10.1 million metric tons (MMT) of whole soybeans and 18.6 MMT of soybean meal[1], underscoring the region's reliance on imported soy products, including U.S. Soy for high-quality, sustainable protein. The Philippines continues to be the top importer of U.S. soybean meal globally, while Vietnam remains among the region's leading markets with strong demand growth in recent years driven by expanding feed demand for livestock and aquaculture production.
The region's food and beverage sector continues to embrace U.S. Soy's quality and versatility, supporting both traditional and modern food applications. As urbanization accelerates and consumer expectations evolve, rising consumption of poultry, pork, and seafood continues to drive demand for soybean meal across Southeast Asia.
"These events bring together partners across the feed and food sectors to support practical dialogue and collaboration across the value chain," said Carlos Salinas, Executive Director – East Asia, U.S. Soybean Export Council. "Southeast Asia remains a key growth region for U.S. Soy. As demand for protein continues to rise, there are clear opportunities to expand the use of U.S. soybean meal and soy food products across the region. Through continued engagement, we support the region's priorities in food security, nutrition, and sustainable production."
Sustainability That Buyers Trust
Sustainability, transparency, and consistent quality continue to shape buyer expectations across Southeast Asia. U.S. Soy's unique strengths, including its lower carbon footprint and verified sustainability credentials, remain key differentiators for customers in the region. This is supported by the long-standing commitment of multi-generational U.S. farmers to quality[2] and reliable supply. Close engagement with buyers further reinforces confidence in U.S. Soy as a dependable, long-term partner.
S.E. Asia U.S. Agricultural Cooperators Conference 2026 (23–25 March, 2026)
Co‑organized by USSEC, the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, and U.S. Wheat Associates, the conference centered on the theme "Building Trusted Partnerships, Delivering Value and Reliability."
The three-day program brought together U.S. suppliers and Southeast Asian buyers through business-to-business meetings, plenary sessions, and expert-led discussions focused on the forces shaping global agricultural markets. Insights highlighted how production trends, policy developments, and shifting trade dynamics continue to influence supply, pricing, and market outlooks across soy, grains, and wheat in an increasingly complex global trade environment. These discussions reinforced that reliability and long-term relationships remain key in navigating market uncertainty.
The conference also provided opportunities for direct engagement between U.S. suppliers and Southeast Asian buyers, supporting more informed decision-making and deeper market engagement across the value chain. Discussions also highlighted the broader role of the feed sector in supporting reliable access to protein for a growing population.
Asia Soy Excellence & Food Summit 2026 (25–27 March, 2026)
The Asia Soy Excellence & Food Summit opened with a strong emphasis on innovation, nutrition, and sustainability, highlighting the expanding role of U.S. Soy in meeting Asia's evolving food needs. Under the theme "Unlocking Nutritious and Sustainable Soy Benefits – Differentiate and Elevate U.S. Soy for Nourishing Asia," the summit convened leaders across the soy food ecosystem to explore how sustainably sourced U.S. Soy can support healthier diets and more resilient food systems across the region.
Sustainability is also playing a greater role in shaping brand positioning and purchasing decisions. Industry partners are reporting stronger product differentiation, improved market performance, and enhanced consumer trust following the adoption of the Sustainable U.S. Soy (SUSS) label[3], which identifies products made with verified sustainable U.S. Soy.
The program further underscored demand for food-grade and identity preserved soybeans, alongside the importance of verified sourcing and traceability in meeting buyer expectations for consistent and trusted supply.
Together, both events underscored the importance of strong partnerships, responsible sourcing, and shared innovation in supporting Southeast Asia's evolving food and feed needs. U.S. Soy continues to deliver consistent, responsibly sourced solutions backed by reliability and collaboration across the value chain.
About USSEC
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of U.S. Soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in more than 90 countries internationally. USSEC members represent the soy supply chain including U.S. Soy farmers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses, and agricultural organizations. USSEC is funded by the U.S. Soy Checkoff, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service matching funds, and industry. Visit www.ussec.org for the latest information about USSEC and U.S. Soy internationally.
[1] USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Production, Supply and Distribution, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Global Agricultural Trade System, Data reflected is for total soy imports across all origins.
[2] https://ussec.org/why-choose-us-soy/the-us-soy-advantage/#superior-quality
[3] https://ussec.org/buyer-tools/sustainable-us-soy-label/
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U.S. Soy Drives Dialogue on Trade, Partnerships, and Sustainable Growth in Southeast Asia
U.S. Soy Drives Dialogue on Trade, Partnerships, and Sustainable Growth in Southeast Asia