CAB announces selected applicants to the Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making

In order to promote the growth of Macao's fashion design sector, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB) launched the "Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making" in June 2013, which attracted 27 applications. The subsidy aims to help designers develop their fashion label and career, by funding them in producing samples and promotional catalogues, as well as participating in local and overseas fashion exhibitions and marketing events. The second review of the Programme was completed - in October 2013, where eight applying fashion works were selected, whose production will be subsidized by the CAB. The adjudicating panel concluded that the overall standard of the applying works is acceptable, selecting the following applicants: Tam Chi Kit, Chan Wai Chan, Cheang Chi Tat, Lei Weng Man & Lei Ho Sin Ieng (duo), Wai Chin Seong, Cheang Man Cheng & Tse Ka Wai (duo), Lee Ming San, Cheong Oi Leng. The CAB will provide the selected applicants a subsidy as budgeted in their proposals, which can be up to a maximum of Mop150,000. The CAB staff will notify the selected applicants by phone. The adjudicating panel was composed of fashion professionals with different backgrounds from Hong Kong and Macao like fashion design, retail, manufacture, academia and public sector. They included Dr. Raymond Au, Associate Academic Director at the Hong Kong Design Institute and former Associate Head and Professor at the Institute of Textiles & Clothing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Mr. Walter Ma, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association; Ms. Victoria Kuan, Senior Manager at the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM); Ms. Terry Sio, member of the Committee of Cultural Industries of Macao and President of the Rainbow Group; Mr. Fong Son Kin, Vice-President of the Macau Industries Association (was unable to take part in second review process due to his business needs); Mr. António Conceição Junior, a veteran fashion designer from Macao; and Mr. Chan Peng Fai, Chief of the CAB's Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries. The CAB wished to draw from the adjudicating panel's vast professional experiences in fashion, hoping that they could offer participants professional advices to help them optimize their design concept, marketing and development plans. The jury pointed out that applicants to the Programme in general showed inadequate attention to business plan; hence they advised them to devise a more complete and comprehensive business and budgeting strategies in the future, so as to embrace future competitions. To further promote the selected designers and their works, the CAB plans to invite them to show their finished fashion samples at the Macao Fashion Gallery this year. Any enquiries regarding the results of the Programme, please call (853) 28924040 Ms. Lam or Ms. Lau of the CAB during office hours.