The selection of the 2014 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making held by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) was completed and a total of eight entrants were selected as beneficiaries of the Programme. IC will grant each beneficiary (individual or team) with a subsidy of up to MOP150,000 for the sample making, production of promotional material and application for participating in fashion design marketing activities in or outside Macao.
In order to promote sustainable development of the fashion design industry in Macao, IC launched the 2014 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making last year. Among the 23 applicants, the adjudicating panel selected eight finalists after the initial and second reviews, seven of which are individuals and one is a team. The beneficiaries are: Wai Chin Seong, Leong Man Teng, Lei Wai Cheng, Wan Sio Tong and Wong Ha (team), Cheang Man Cheng, Cheong Oi Leng, Cheang Chi Tat and Leong Iok Pui.
The adjudicating panel comprised of relevant professionals from Macao and Hong Kong covering various fields such as fashion design, retail, production, training and the public sector. Members include Walter Ma, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association; Terry Sio, member of the Committee of Cultural Industries of Macao and the President of Rainbow Group; Victoria Kuan, Senior Manager at the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM); José Tang Kuan Meng, Vice President of the Industrial Association of Macau; Robert Lai, consultant of the Macao Fashion Gallery and Chan Peng Fai, Acting Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao.
The Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making was first launched in 2013. Adjudicators who participated in the selection process of the two previous Programmes said that, the marketing and budgeting plans of applicants in 2014 have generally improved compared with that of the previous year, and many designs have boosted market potential. More than half of the applicants have registered trademarks for their brands, showing that local fashion designers are aware of brand protection and paying much attention to intellectual property rights. Moreover, over 70% of the applicants have established their brands in less than three years, showing that new designers do have a larger demand for the subsidy, which indeed supports and spurs more newcomers to the industry. For enquiries about the results of the Programme, please call Ms. Lam or Ms. Lau through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
