From AI-led matchmaking to sustainable materials and IP strategy, the upcoming April events show how sourcing practices are being reconfigured

Trade fairs have long been built on face-to-face deals and product displays, but that model is being reworked. At upcoming HKTDC’s April lifestyle events, AI tools, sustainability requirements and intellectual property (IP) strategies are being integrated into the sourcing process.

That convergence will be on display in the final week of April when the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) stages seven events across the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo.

To be held from 27 to 30 April, the line-up includes the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle, as well as the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference will run from 27 to 29 April, bringing together participants from across the licensing and creative sectors.

Wei Yit Vacuum Flask Manufactory Ltd unveils its Series 116 vacuum flask blind box at the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, featuring designs by Hong Kong illustrator Pen So and contemporary artist Jerry Cho, with each piece depicting detailed local streetscapes.

Scale and international reach

The six events as a whole are expected to draw around 5,600 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, the rest of Asia, as well as Europe and the Middle East.

Exhibitors from Finland, Iceland, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan will make their debut this year, and this reflects a broader mix of sourcing markets.

New pavilions from India and Indonesia will be introduced, alongside pavilions from the Chinese Mainland, including Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin, Quanzhou, Shanxi, Sheyang, Wuhan, Xinjiang and Zhejiang, offering buyers a wider range of suppliers and product categories.

The scale of the gathering reinforces Hong Kong’s unique role as a meeting point for Chinese Mainland and international businesses, well aligned with national plans such as the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The structure of the fairs, however, indicates a greater focus on trading practices rather than location. And AI is, obviously, being incorporated into the sourcing process with greater intent. 

AI-driven sourcing and tools

Under the EXHIBITION+ format, physical exhibitions will be combined with digital engagement tools designed to facilitate digital business matching.

Platforms such as Click2Match and Scan2Match are intended to connect buyers and exhibitors before, during and after the fairs, while a newly introduced SmartBot service will allow visitors to search for products and generate tailored routes around the venue.

The objective is to reduce the reliance on chance encounters and enable more targeted interactions, particularly for buyers working within limited timeframes.

Sustainability and materials innovation

Sustainability considerations are also being built into strategic sourcing best practices. More than 820 exhibitors across the seven events will present products described as environmentally friendly, covering areas such as gifts, homeware, fashion, printing and packaging.

At the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, solutions will include RFID-enabled smart packaging and anti-counterfeiting technologies, as well as materials derived from plant-based sources.

Packaging products made from wood pulp and sugarcane pulp, designed to be biodegradable and recyclable, are among the examples being presented.

At the premium end, DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong will focus on packaging for high-end goods, including jewellery, watches and fine wine. Materials such as carbon fibre, more commonly associated with industrial and sporting applications, are being adapted for use in luxury packaging.

Discussions held during the fairs will also address issues related to sustainability, including material innovation and the practical challenges associated with cost and production.

Ageing population and product development

Demographic trends are also being taken into account in product development, particularly in response to ageing populations.

Home InStyle will feature a Gerontech and Innovative Material Pavilion, bringing together more than 20 local exhibitors presenting solutions designed to support home-based living, rehabilitation and fitness.

These include AI-driven systems that analyse user data to generate personalised exercise programmes so that older users can stay active and maintain their strength at home.

An exhibitor at Home InStyle presents a smart fitness training system at the Gerontech and Innovative Material Pavilion, using AI and data-driven analysis to generate personalised exercise plans for seniors to build strength at home.

Design, culture and lifestyle concepts

Moreover, design and cultural elements are being incorporated more directly into the commercial environment through the introduction of a “Reimagine” themed floor (Hall 5) at the HKCEC.

This area will connect the Gifts & Premium Fair with Home InStyle, presenting products through a combination of innovative, design, cultural creative references and future lifestyle concepts.

Zones across the floor will include the Gifts & Premium Fair’s new Selection of ASEAN and The Bespoke Hub and the Hong Kong Smart Design Global Awards, Home InStyle’s Cultural and Creative Avenue and Gerontech and Innovative Material Pavilion.

The Cultural and Creative Avenue brings together over 110 exhibitors from over 10 countries and regions, presenting distinctive brands and designs that celebrate diverse cultural heritages. The use of Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year, “Cloud Dancer”, to curate display settings is intended to guide buyers on product presentation and visual merchandising.

Diverse materials collide to drive fashion innovation

Fashion InStyle will continue to explore material innovation through its NEXT@Fashion InStyle (NEXT) initiative.

NEXT brings together over 60 global exhibitors from an ever-wider geographical reach, spanning not only Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and the featured partner — the Philippines, but also other Asian markets such as Indonesia and Thailand; several Nordic countries also join the showcase, including Iceland, Finland and Sweden, further elevating NEXT’s international profile and cementing its role as a global exchange platform for leading future fashion trends.

NEXT has once again invited Han Chong, founder and creative director of contemporary fashion brand Self-Portrait, to serve as the project ambassador. Chong will lead local brands working with material suppliers to produce collections based on themes including heritage, sustainability and functionality. For the first time, materials sourced from outside of Hong Kong will be incorporated into these designs. All completed designs will be unveiled at the NEXT Fashion Parade on the second evening of the Fair.
 

NEXT@Fashion InStyle showcases designs that reinterpret cultural heritage, with design studio Tigerstrolling combining Song Brocade, a national-level intangible cultural heritage, with denim and Hong Kong cultural elements.

IP and commercial applications

An exhibitor at the Hong Kong International Licensing Show presents its pixel-art IP character Potatoz, as well as a range of products inspired by the brand.

The Hong Kong International Licensing Show will feature more than 600 brands and characters, covering categories such as entertainment, lifestyle and sports.

The Design Licensing and Business Support Scheme will present close to 40 local intellectual properties, while collaborations with academic institutions will showcase emerging design talent.

A new “IP and e-Commerce Support Services” zone will be introduced at the licensing show, which will bring together e-commerce platforms, marketing agencies and content creators to support brands seeking to expand online.

The concurrent Asian Licensing Conference will further examine topics including global licensing trends, virtual influencers and location-based entertainment, providing insight into how content-driven business models are being developed.