Kai Tak AIRSIDE | 'Play, Pose & Pixel' Major Exhibition Presented by Hong Kong Design Centre: Four Zones, Starting from 'Play' - A Nostalgic Journey from Dress-up Dolls

Description

Organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) and curated by digital fashion pioneer FabriX, with funding support from Creative Industries Development Branch, the Play, Pose & Pixel exhibition is one of the highlight programmes of 'Hong Kong Fashion Week 2025'. Held at AIRSIDE Gate33 Gallery from now until 2 December, the exhibition builds on the success of Tomorrow Was during Paris Fashion Week, once again in collaboration with Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM). It further explores the intersection of fashion and technology, making avant-garde digital haute couture accessible and bringing fashion creativity into our daily lives.

From Dress-up Dolls to Digital Avatars: Evolution of Self-expression

Fashion has always been a game of imagination, whether it's dressing up dolls or creating digital looks for virtual avatars. The exhibition takes a playful approach, presenting in a bold and engaging manner how different generations express themselves through fashion, inviting visitors of all ages to embark on a creative journey beyond the physical world.

Zone 1 – The Doll House: Origins of Fashion Style

Step into a time tunnel and discover over 40 vintage dolls from a collector's treasure trove, exploring the roots of fashion style. The exhibition features classic Barbie series and rare limited-edition collaborations with international fashion brands such as Christian Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, and Christian Louboutin. It also showcases over 20 art dolls handcrafted by local doll artist and fashion enthusiast Ning Lau, infusing her unique fashion sense into each creation, adding a touch of Hong Kong creativity to this nostalgic journey.

Zone 2 – Enter the Age of Avatars: Redefining Your Identity

This zone shines a spotlight on the global phenomenon of Avatar culture, showcasing the new-generation digital playground fashion of platforms like Roblox. Wander through an infinite kaleidoscope mirror tunnel, where every reflection presents a different 'Mini-You' – creating an immersive experience and showcasing the endless possibilities of identity and creativity.

Zone 3 – From Paris to Hong Kong: Redefining Future Fashion Experiences

Try on Future Fashion with Pixel Fitting – Try Now, Buy Now!
FabriX's innovative 'AR Fitting Room' brings new-generation fashion to life, featuring designs from Paris Fashion Week talents and emerging Hong Kong designers, including 2025 LVMH Prize finalist Alain Paul, the first BoF China Prize winner Caroline Hu, Didu, known for designing K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Deadline world tour looks, and Kevin Germanier, whose creations were applauded at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony. Three rising stars of Hong Kong's fashion scene – Derek Chan, founder of DEMO and participant in the 'Fashion Incubation Programme (FIP)' and 'Design Incubation Programme (DIP)'; Brun Chan, founder of röyksopp gakkai and awardee of 'DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award (YDTA)' and 'Design Incubation Programme (DIP)'; and Tiger Chung, designer of 'Tigerstrolling' and winner of 'Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC)' – will also present their designs in AR virtual format, blending local creativity with international perspectives in a novel way.

Moreover, this zone employs innovative technology to showcase the infinite possibilities of fashion presentation – using 4D scanning technology developed by 4D.ai, and conceived by James Cao and his team, to present digital fashion creations by Kevin Germanier, the visionary behind Björk's Cannes stage costumes, pushing the boundaries of fashion with cutting-edge technology.

Visitors can also explore 360-degree digital fashion up close for the first time: from rotating, enlarging, and minimising, to recording 'motion images', redefining and breaking the limits of future Lookbooks. Future fashion is not just about browsing; it's about making style tangible, visible, and try-on-able before it takes shape in the physical world.

Zone 4: Digital Afterparty: Unveiling Your 'Virtual Me'

Strike a Pose, Capture the Fashion Moment
The finale zone unlocks visitors' virtual alter egos – their 'Virtual Me' – in a blind box format. Through a quick scan, visitors will transform into digital fashion superstars, randomly assigned one of six future looks, making their debut on a vibrant LED stage. The atmosphere is set by a 'Silent Disco', playing nostalgic Cantopop hits from the 80s, where fashion becomes the language and Hong Kong creativity takes centre stage.

Fashion has always been one of the most powerful forms of self-expression – and at its core, it's all about play. Play, Pose & Pixel invites visitors of all ages, from children who love dressing up dolls to teenagers creating avatars on Roblox, and adults curious about future fashion and technology, to embark on a journey of discovery, finding their own surprises and inspiration.

Come and join us on an immersive exploration of fashion, technology, and creativity, shaping the fashion of tomorrow, today.

The Play, Pose & Pixel exhibition is organised by Hong Kong Design Centre and funded by Creative Industries Development Branch as part of Hong Kong Fashion Week. Hong Kong Fashion Week is hosted by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.