The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO) hosted the virtual opening ceremony of 2021 Hong Kong Week and the “Transformative Chic - The Everlasting Cheongsam Exhibition” on June 2.
Delivering a welcome speech at the opening ceremony, the Director of the HKETO, Ms Emily Mo, said that HKETO was delighted to present 2021 Hong Kong Week in Canada to showcase Hong Kong's strengths, advantages and potential with emphasis on the core values and attributes of the city.
“Dynamic, resilient, and transformative speak about the beauty of the cheongsam, and they are also fitting descriptions of the strengths of Hong Kong - one of the world’s premier international financial business centres,” Ms Mo said.
The sewing techniques of the Hong Kong-style cheongsam is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the cheongsam has evolved over time into various forms. “In Hong Kong, the cheongsam is not only a garment for special occasions but also remains very relevant to our daily life, from business attire to school uniform,” Ms Mo said.
The cheongsam exhibition during 2021 Hong Kong Week looks at the history of this traditional yet fashionable garment and its cultural importance to Hong Kong. Different styles of cheongsams and relevant photos by nine Hong Kong premier designers units will be on display. “Employing a diversity of materials, technology and craftsmanship, these Hong Kong designers have brought this traditional attire into the modern age,” Ms Mo explained.
As well, Ms Mo noted that Hong Kong’s economy is gradually getting back on track after more than a year of battling against the epidemic. “Supported by our unique advantages under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, not only are international events returning to Hong Kong with special health measures in place, exciting major developments are also coming along on various fronts for Hong Kong. These include the city’s unique role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as well as the country’s developments as affirmed by the National 14th Five-Year Plan,” Ms Mo said.
Ms Mo also introduced a series of activities to be held during the 2021 Hong Kong Week, including a webinar with the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, the launching event of the Women’s International Network@ Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Toronto Section) and a dragon boat exhibition in Vancouver.
Having regard to the epidemic situation, most of the activities will be held virtually. Details of the 2021 Hong Kong Week can be found on the event’s dedicated webpage (www.hongkongweek.ca/).
The “Transformative Chic: The Everlasting Cheongsam Exhibition” is jointly presented by the HKETO, the Hong Kong Arts Centre and the Chinese Canadian Photographic Society of Toronto. The nine participating Hong Kong designers units are Grace Choi, Janko Lam, Kenny Li, Mary Yu, Mountain Yam, Polly Ho, Ranee Kok, Blind by JW and Cantosoul (Jasmine Cheung).
The opening ceremony also featured a performance by Dance DNA, a Toronto-based dance group, where dancers performed in cheongsams designed by three Hong Kong designers participating in the exhibition.
“Transformative Chic: The Everlasting Cheongsam Exhibition” will be held virtually across Canada from June 2 to July 1 and at the Pendulum Gallery in downtown Vancouver from June 2 to 18.
香港經貿處舉辦「香港周」暨「混搭之時尚──當代長衫展覽」開幕禮
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）於六月二日舉辦「2021香港周」暨「混搭之時尚──當代長衫展覽」網上開幕禮。
香港經貿處處長巫菀菁在開幕禮致歡迎辭時表示，香港經貿處很高興在加拿大舉行「2021香港周」，展現香港的優勢和機遇，並重點推介香港的核心價值和特質。
巫菀菁表示：「充滿活力、靈活和多變是長衫獨特的魅力，也能充分描述香港作為全球首屈一指的國際金融商業中心之一的特質。」
香港中式長衫的縫製技藝是聯合國教育、科學及文化組織的非物質文化遺產，其款式隨時間演變，千變萬化。巫菀菁表示：「在香港，長衫不但是重要場合的服裝，也是行政服裝和校服，與我們日常生活息息相關。」
「2021香港周」期間舉行的長衫展覽，會探討這既傳統亦時尚的服裝歷史及其在香港文化的重要性。展覽將展出香港九個著名設計師單位不同風格的長衫以及相關照片。巫菀菁進一步說：「這幾位香港設計師採用多元化的材料、技術和工藝，將這傳統服裝帶進當代世界。」
此外，巫菀菁提到香港經過過去逾一年的抗疫工作，經濟已逐步重回正軌。她說：「在『一國兩制』原則的獨特優勢下，不少國際盛事在特別衞生措施下已在香港恢復舉行，而香港在不同方面亦有重大的發展，包括《十四五規劃綱要》中落實香港在粵港澳大灣區及國家發展的獨特角色。」
巫菀菁亦簡介「2021香港周」將舉行的一系列活動，包括香港特別行政區政府政務司司長張建宗出席的網上研討會、港加商會（多倫多分會）首辦的婦女國際網絡啓動禮及在溫哥華舉行的龍舟展覽。鑑於疫情，大部分「2021香港周」的活動將會在網上進行。有關「2021香港周」的詳情，可以瀏覽專屬網頁www.hongkongweek.ca。
「混搭之時尚──當代長衫展覽」由香港經貿處、香港藝術中心和多倫多加中攝影會合辦，九個參與的設計師單位分別是蔡毅明、林春菊、李冠然、余嫿、任銘暉、何善恒、郭翠華、Blind by JW和及Cantosoul（張一諾）。
開幕禮的節目包括多倫多舞蹈團Dance DNA的演出，當中舞者穿上三位參與今次展覽的香港設計師設計的長衫表演。
「混搭之時尚──當代長衫展覽」由六月二日至七月一日在全加拿大透過網上舉行，並於六月二日至十八日在溫哥華市中心的Pendulum展覽館展出。
