Hong Kong Fashion Week has kicked off across the Asian financial hub. Three Asian designer brands - Ika Butoni, Clara Tan and ZeevanCo by Meggie - showed their upcoming Spring/Summer styles on the catwalk in hopes of turning the eyes of the fashion world onto bolder and trendier designs. 

All originating from Indonesia, the designers introduce different hints from their home country into their collections. Clara Tan brings light-weight, ethereal womenswear and menswear in light colors to the runway. Her new collection, Pret a Porter, is inspired by the beautiful beaches and waters of Indonesia. Tan makes her collection more everyday-wearable rather than runway pieces, in order to introduce her designs into the booming market in China.

"I think from my collection I have like ready-to-wear. The ready-to-wear, I think, the China market can afford, like to medium, yes. And the couture, because I have the couture line as well, so maybe like a high end target, something like that." said Clara Tan, Fashion Designer.

Ika Butoni, whose brand is based in Hong Kong, plays with bright colors and indigenous patterns from her native Indonesia in her just unveiled collection, Du Temps. Butoni feels that designers who want to enter the Hong Kong market are struggling to strike the balance between maintaining their own style and meeting buyers' expectations. However, she thinks that the designs should take priority.

"Problem with Hong Kong now is like that we have to satisfy the customers needs, so we forget to be a designer. I think number one for me is to be a designer first. Then, in the production you can think about how it fits to certain market for the colors, for the cut and for your customers. But when you make collection, just think about collection, don't think about anybody.” said Ika Butoni, Fashion Designer.

Another brand featured in the opening show, ZeevanCo by Meggie, from designer Meggie Hadiyanto, brings spring blossoms to the stage with evening dresses in pastel colors. 

Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer runs from Monday to Thursday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It attracts more than 1200 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions who gather in the Financial hub to the display the latest and greatest in Asian fashion.