Returning for their second year at Fashion InStyle, Mary Ma, the founder of Textile Library showcased three core collections: the " Crackle Finishing " series inspired by glacial movements, " Warp Print " art pieces based on Chinese ink wash paintings, and an innovative application of traditional JubeJube (tie-dye) techniques.

The brand also presented high-tech textiles that respond to environmental stimuli, such as fabrics that reveal patterns under sunlight or rain, and materials that change light based on body temperature. While Mary noted that formal deals have yet to be finalised during this session, she highlighted the significant networking value of the event, stating, "We have established some contacts; I hope our products can go overseas to Southeast Asian countries for deeper exploration and understanding". She reported receiving over a dozen serious enquiries from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Southeast Asia. Reflecting on the connections made with buyers from Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, she remarked, "Establishment of connections is very high".

Hin, representing a Hong Kong-based garment trading company New High with an office in Hangzhou, shared a positive outlook on their first-time participation. Specialising in swimwear and activewear, the company aimed to expand beyond its traditional North American and British markets to discover new global opportunities.

The exhibition proved to be a highly effective platform for international exposure, as Hin met approximately 50 potential buyers from diverse regions, including Dubai, Denmark, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Hin was particularly impressed by the unexpected geographic reach of the attendees especially buyers from Dubai and Northern Africa, he states "The variety of buyer types exceeded my expectations; I didn't imagine buyers from so many different countries would visit". Regarding business outcomes, Hin identified four to five promising leads and estimated a potential deal value of approximately US$100,000. Despite being a debutant at this show, Hin praised the helpfulness of the staff and the high quality of the connections made, concluding that the experience was significantly beneficial for reaching new international clients.

Mila Ingsong, the owner of Kit Silver Jewellery, shared her success story of returning to the Fashion InStyle exhibition after her last visit in 2019. With nearly 50 years of experience in the industry, Ingsong is dedicated to promoting traditional Philippine filigree designs, which she describes as her country's heritage jewelry.

The exhibition proved highly effective for global networking, as Ingsong met over 14 potential clients from Australia, New Zealand, and mainland China within the first two days. She highlighted two major business developments: two clients from New Zealand are scheduled to visit her office in the Philippines to finalise orders estimated at US $10,000 and above. Furthermore, through HKTDC’s pre-show matching, she met a high-profile buyer who owns over 200 retail stores in mainland China and Macau. This buyer plans to launch a new collection featuring Ingsong’s designs with an initial transaction valued at US $20,000. Reflecting on the fair's impact, Ingsong stated, "I was amazed because she will start with $20,000 U.S. dollars as a beginning transaction for us.I think this show has a potential for our brand to improve".

Mr. Hlynur Arsaelsson, representing a high-quality leather company from Iceland, shared the success of their first-time participation at the exhibition. The company specializes in the innovative production of fish leather, an upcycled and sustainable material originally derived from waste. Arselsson noted that sustainability is currently a significant industry trend, stating, "Sustainability is very general, and this is both sustainable and a new material we're introducing".

The fair served as a highly productive platform for networking, with the team engaging with 40 to 50 people during the first two days alone. These contacts included potential buyers from diverse regions such as Europe, Mainland China, and Indonesia. Arsaelsson specifically praised the efficiency of the HKTDC's Click2Match platform and the pre-arranged face-to-face meetings, which he found exceptionally effective for establishing connections. Reflecting on the event's professional atmosphere, he remarked that compared to other international events, this fair stands out because it is "very effective and very productive". While specific deal amounts were not disclosed, Arsaelsson is optimistic about future collaborations as they begin sending samples to their new global leads.

The Sales Manager from i2Cool showcased a revolutionary biomimetic cooling material inspired by the Saharan silver ant. This advanced nanotechnology reflects 70% of solar heat and 99% of UV rays, allowing surfaces and garments to maintain a low temperature without consuming electricity. The technology has already proven its efficiency in urban applications, such as the rooftop of the Hong Kong Coliseum, where it saves approximately HK$300,000 in annual electricity costs.

The fair has provided i2ku with high-quality global exposure, attracting over a dozen daily enquiries from countries including India, the United States, Australia, and regions across Europe and Mainland China. A particularly significant lead involves a textile association from Shanghai that serves major brands. If their testing phase is successful, the potential deal for bulk fabric procurement could reach millions of US dollars. Reflecting on the event's effectiveness, the Sales Manager noted: "The HKTDC has many connections, some exhibitors can precisely connect with our upstream and downstream needs". This underscores the exhibition's vital role in bridging cutting-edge material science with large-scale industrial manufacturing.

Lucia Capanes, the Creative Director of Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts, shared her inspiring experience as part of the Philippine delegation during their first participation in the exhibition. Based in the Philippines, the company collaborates with Cordilleran artisans to produce exquisite hand-dyed and hand-woven textiles, featuring their "Narda’s Naturals" line which utilises eco-friendly dyes sourced from mahogany bark and local grasses.

Despite the large manufacturing scale of other exhibitors, the fair provided a successful platform for their artisanal craft. Lucia reported meeting approximately ten interested buyers from diverse regions, including Korea, Japan, Australia, and Kazakhstan. Key highlights included a Korean buyer inquiring about bulk orders and a Japanese designer interested in custom outfits. Reflecting on the reception of their handmade goods, Lucia remarked, “We are happy that, there were some buyers that were interested in our handicraft. And there were some that appreciate and love the items that we are offering”. Moving forward, the company plans to send samples to these potential leads to finalise future deals.

Vanessa, Creative Director at the Brazilian digital-first fashion company Amaro, highlights the significant business potential and innovative spirit of the Fashion InStyle fair. As a first-time attendee, Vanessa’s primary objective was to source new suppliers, raw materials, and cutting-edge technologies for Amaro’s contemporary womenswear line.

Vanessa expressed high praise for the fair’s efficiency, noting that unlike larger, more chaotic events, this fair allows her to focus entirely on fashion. She was particularly inspired by sustainable material innovations, such as leather made from salmon skin and cotton-like textiles derived from pineapple fruit. She described the pineapple material as an amazing new material with a very soft final touch.

Crucially, the show facilitated immediate business negotiations. Vanessa identified two potential partners from India and China whose price points and collections perfectly matched Amaro's needs for their FW27 collection. She confirmed a substantial investment, stating, "I plan to spend $100,000 dollars for 15,000 pieces in total in around 12 different styles." This outcome underscores the fair's role in delivering tangible commercial results and fostering global partnerships in a streamlined environment.

George, representing a business in the fashion industry from Leicester, UK, highlights the practical benefits and networking potential of the Fashion InStyle exhibition. George visited the fair with a clear objective which is to network with industry professionals and source high-quality manufacturers and factories.

While primarily seeking traditional, clean materials like cotton and wool, George noted that the exhibition successfully broadened his perspective on industry innovation. He was particularly impressed by unique discoveries such as fish skin leather, stating, "The exhibition has opened my mind because I've discovered a lot of new things, there's a lot of cool new innovations here that I didn't know existed."

The fair proved to be a highly cost-effective sourcing platform for George’s production needs. He identified five credible factories that manufacture major brands and established a plan to produce 10,000 t-shirts. George highlighted the significant savings found at the fair, noting that while a t-shirt might cost €10 to produce in Portugal, he could manufacture them here for roughly €5 per unit, representing a total potential deal value of approximately €50,000. He highly recommends the event to both startups and established brands for its networking and market insights.

Mr. Baek visited the fair representing Kolon Industries FnC, a major South Korean fashion conglomerate managing over 40–50 brands across sportswear, menswear, casual wear, and womenswear. As a first-time attendee, his primary objective was to discover functional and newly developed textiles for the company's diverse portfolio, particularly for their golf and sports brands.

He expressed strong interest in the fair's diverse international representation, noting that unlike other regional shows, Fashion InStyle allows buyers to source from countries such as Sweden, Germany, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam all in one place. Mr. Baek was particularly impressed by the sustainable and high-tech innovations, including seaweed-based fake leather, pineapple-derived materials, and a specialised Swedish moisture-wicking technology that cleans and expels sweat—a feature he noted as being exceptionally suitable for sportswear.

Mr. Baek estimated a tentative sourcing budget of approximately US$120,000 for this event. He calculated this based on a selection of about 10 products (such as "cool cotton," linen, and hemp), assuming an average order of 3,000 metres per style at a price point of roughly US$4 per metre. He remarked on the convenience of the fair, stating: "It is very convenient to see the finished garments and all the components, such as fabrics, buttons, and zippers, in one single place".

Representing SHIPS, a lifestyle brand with numerous retail locations across Japan, Ms MATSUURA serves as a specialised buyer for the women’s wear department. Her primary mission during this visit was twofold, one is to discover unique products and materials not currently available in the Japanese market, and one is to identify partners focused on environmental responsibility.

Specifically, she highlighted a strong interest in handcrafted and artisanal items, noting that such "hand-made" quality is increasingly rare and highly sought after in Japan. Furthermore, she actively sought out sustainable and upcycled materials, expressing a desire to collaborate with brands that prioritise the planet. During her visit, she was particularly impressed by a bag brand, praising its balance of quality and price, as well as the advantages of its large-scale in-house manufacturing capabilities. While innovative materials like seaweed and mushroom-based fabrics caught her eye, she noted that further research is needed to visualize how to transform these raw materials into finished products.

Regarding her sourcing strategy, she intends to start with minimum order quantities (MOQs) to test market response before committing to larger volumes. Reflecting on the event's scale, she remarked: "In terms of volume, I am highly satisfied; there is so much to see that it’s almost impossible to get through it all". While she found the quantity of exhibitors impressive, she suggested that a greater focus on finished goods rather than just raw materials would further assist buyers in their decision-making process.

XXX, a designer from the Japanese casual-wear brand Shinzone shared her insights on sourcing and material innovation. Managing four retail stores in Japan with a focus on denim and shirts, the brand’s primary objective for this visit was to discover unique textiles and yarns to integrate into their upcoming collections.

The designer expressed great satisfaction with the opportunity to reconnect with an established yarn supplier Yarns & Color whose materials Shinzone has utilised previously. She was particularly impressed by the diverse range of cashmere blends available, including cashmere-wool, cashmere-cotton, and cashmere-linen. Beyond traditional fibres, she highlighted her interest in eco-friendly innovations, specifically mentioning seaweed-based materials. She remarked, "I was able to see a great deal of information and many different materials all at once; it was a very good experience for me". Regarding order volumes, she noted that while the brand is relatively small, a typical order for a single knitwear style is around 100 pieces, will be ordering about 20KG of yarns. While she found some manufacturers' minimum order quantities (MOQs) to be a challenge for a boutique brand, she concluded that the fair was an invaluable platform for catching trends that would be impossible to find in Japan alone.

The sustainable women’s wear brand SKFK, stablished in 1999 and operating across 25 countries including France, Spain, Chile, Japan, Canada, and the US, the brand returns to Hong Kong for the first time since 2019 to explore East Asia’s premier sourcing hub.

Focusing on "slow fashion," Mikel Elzo, the founder and owner of SKFK praised the exhibition’s efficiency and high-quality international representation, particularly noting potential suppliers from China, the Philippines, India, and Thailand. He expressed interest in diverse categories, including technical fabrics and lifestyle accessories, and identified five or six promising leads for sustainable bags and home products. Highlighting his interest in small-batch artisanal goods, he stated, "We can source from Philippines artisans and craftsmen that we could include in our own retail spaces". He also lauded the event's professional organization, remarking, "I've been to many fairs in my life, never had such a follow-up... I think it is very interesting". While order quantities are determined product-by-product, the brand seeks partnerships for styles averaging 200 pieces, maintaining its commitment to certified sustainable materials.