The launch press conference for the "2026 Hakka Fashion Awards" was held this morning (the 15th) at the "CORNER MAX Grand Corner Multi-Function Exhibition Hall." Wu Wen-De, Chairperson of the Hakka Affairs Commission of the Taipei City Government and CEO of the Taipei City Hakka Culture Foundation, remarked at the event: "This edition of the Hakka Fashion Awards takes inspiration from the works of the 'Hou Sheng Literature Award.' We sincerely invite fashion designers aged 18 and above to participate enthusiastically, combining literary elements with sustainable materials and upcycled fabrics to create garments that showcase the unique charm of urban Hakka culture in Taipei." This year's competition format breaks through the previous division between the student group and the open group for the first time, encouraging cross-generational design exchange. The finals and awards ceremony will be evaluated on-site by a professional judging panel, selecting 1 Gold Award, 1 Silver Award, 1 Bronze Award, 5 New Talent Awards, 2 Popularity Awards, and 1 Jury's Special Award. The grand prize carries prize money of NT$350,000, with total prize money exceeding NT$1 million. The submission period runs from today through May 10. Designers from all walks of life are warmly welcomed to register and jointly showcase the innovative flair of Taipei's Hakka fashion.
A Star-Studded Launch Press Conference Showcasing Taipei's Urban Hakka Fashion
At the press conference of the "2026 HFA Hakka Fashion Awards," the General Curator and internationally renowned fashion designer Pani Yiliang led a stunning opening runway show. The show's garment designs cleverly incorporated the creative philosophy of Hsu Hsin-Chien, the first Taiwanese artist to integrate medicine and aesthetics, translating the color vocabulary and visual rhythm of his works into textile patterns that demonstrate a distinctive creative vision and aesthetic style.
To open the event, Hakka actor James Wen, who began his career as a model, and Hakka singer Shara Lin appeared together to kick off the press conference. The outfit worn by Shara Lin drew its creative inspiration from the winning work in the Children's Illustration Category of the 2024 Hou Sheng Literature Award, titled "Hakka Flavors." The children's brushstrokes inspired Pani Yiliang with new ideas. Through fashion design, Pani hoped to reinterpret how the younger generation reads cultural memory and identity. The overall work is built on deep blue tones and woven structures, translating the narrative quality of literature into the visual language of fashion, allowing the body to become a medium that carries culture and stories. The 2026 spokesperson James Wen sees the impression Hakka culture leaves on people as down-to-earth and reserved, yet resilient and strong at the same time. Wen noted: "This competition takes its creative inspiration mainly from Hou Sheng literature—'Hou Sheng' means young people in the Hakka language. The Hou Sheng Literature Award has been running for more than 10 years and has collected a great many Hakka novels and prose works. By integrating literature with fashion this time, I believe the creative space for participants will be even larger."
Inventec and UG TEA Join Forces Across Industries in Support of the "2026 HFA Hakka Fashion Awards"
The "2026 HFA Hakka Fashion Awards" has set its competition theme as "Stitching Heritage · Weaving the Future." Within this, "Stitching Heritage" symbolizes the Hakka people's culture of cherishing material resources, with the hope that this spirit can be carried forward and woven into daily life through fashion design. "Weaving the Future," on the other hand, responds to the currents of technological innovation and sustainable design, encouraging designers to integrate smart materials, digital presentation, and circular design concepts, and to drive the continued evolution and innovation of traditional culture in the modern era. The event is co-organized with the Taiwan Association of Fashion & Apparel Designers (TAFAD) and sponsored by Inventec's Metaverse Technology Division (VRSTATE), which leverages the StyleV APP to enhance the digital extension of the event, linking related information and interactive experiences to bring the public closer to the fashion industry through technology.
At the press conference, beverage brand "UG TEA" was also invited to sponsor its "San Yin Shi Mo" (Three-Scent Fifteen-Jasmine) tea, sharing the green floral flavors and the new cultural currents with the guests on site. From design, technology, performance to food and beverage, the "2026 HFA Hakka Fashion Awards" will demonstrate innovative strength in cross-disciplinary integration, infusing Hakka culture with a new life of modern fashion.
Photos and text provided by: Hakka Affairs Commission