Hong Kong has a surprisingly high number of sustainable designers and businesses focusing on sustainable fashion and homeware. Why would that be?
Historically, Hong Kong has been a centre of fashion, innovation and manufacturing. Therefore, Hong Kong plays a leading role in the industry's future.
People living in Hong Kong are very business-focused, constantly creating something new and looking for what is next. Alternatively, they are purely fulfilling something that they dream about achieving.
In this newsletter, we will examine a few success stories of people who have made their dreams a reality. There are some incredibly inspiring entrepreneurs and creators here. I am blessed to know some of them, and they inspire me every day.
“The Hula” is definitely my favourite preloved or resale site and business. They sell an extraordinary array of pre-owned, authenticated designer clothing and accessories. Founder Sarah Fung has built a community and a following that is extraordinary. She has created an industry-leading business with some of the best pieces you can possibly find. At best, I find preloved clothing challenging; the smell of other peoples’ clothes is always present in a shop environment. Sarah and her amazing team make shopping preloved a truly luxurious experience. Sarah has made the art of being a community-based founder with a connection to her customers totally effortless. She creates and curates amazing panels, workshops and events to champion other sustainable and innovative brands and businesses. Having a “more of us is better” mindset. Her values are genuinely all about leadership and excellence. Being with Sarah makes you feel like she has been your friend for years. What an inspiration and shining light.
“Malabar Baby” is one of Hong Kong’s more recent and brilliant sustainable brands. An organic baby-wear brand that has grown to incorporate beautiful homeware and lifestyle products. Their founder, the incredible Anjali Harjani, is one of the most inspiring women I know. She is constantly creating the next level of beauty and authenticity in her business and life. I met Anjali several years ago through a mutual friend. Recently, we met and created some inspiring, fun projects. I always felt that Malabar Baby was not a brand for me - I don’t have children - but Anjali reminded me how much my beloved dog, Lotus, loves her Malabar Baby cot quilt. I recently bought a gift for friends and was blown away by the exceptional service, quality of products and commitment to excellence. I am now shopping for homeware and ready to buy and gift so much more from this authentic and stunning brand. Founded in Malabar Hills, Mumbai, the brand creates products using sustainable materials and processes and keeping the traditional techniques of India, such as block printing, alive. Well done Anjali.
The “R Collective” was created by Hong Kong-based charity Redress in 2017. It advocates for a circular fashion system by taking dead-stock materials and making them into new items for sale. Founder Doctor Christina Dean has led the charge for sustainable fashion beyond Hong Kong to the world for two decades. She is the Founder of Redress, an NGO that educates designers and consumers on circular fashion.
It would be fair to say that Doctor Christina Dean has created an environment where other sustainable fashion businesses can thrive.
Fashion Clinic—“We are fashion surgeons, here to give clothes a second chance at life.”
This is a collective founded by designers Matt Hui and Kay Wong. They are committed to saving the fashion industry from its “sickness”. They provide a “WARDROBE AWAKENING” service, taking items from your wardrobe and giving them a new life. They collaborate with brands and successfully collaborate with industry heavyweights like Adidas and Calvin Klein. I personally had a blazer upcycled by Matty. He took images from my own art and made them into beautiful embroideries and beadwork. The blazer was slightly too big and had some marks on the sleeves, but the upcycling was transformational, creating a work of art from my ill-fitting jacket.
While researching this, we found so many other designers. Hong Kong's commitment to the future of fashion is moving and profound.
Here are a few more sustainable designers and brands, all exploring ways to create a new way forward.
Basics for Basics: Established by Kyla Wong. Basics for Basics is committed to creating an impact by using dead-stock fabrics and sustainable materials to create beautiful designs.
Kitdo: Created by designer Denise Ho. “Kitdo is an innovative and consciously-produced styling piece made with lightweight aluminium and strong magnet inserts. Plated with a waterless coating, namely PVD, the beautifully designed accessory is crafted individually with the CNC machine process”. It provides a versatile accessory, enabling you to wear your clothing in a myriad of ways.
PYE: Helmed by Hong Kong businesswoman Dee Poon from the Equal Group Family. They are dress shirt specialists, producing classic shirts for men with a sustainable “seed-to-shirt” philosophy. “From farming their own cotton in Xinjiang, spinning the yarn with extra long staple cotton, to cutting and sewing their patterns, the brand offers an eco-conscious alternative to typical formal attire”.
Classics Anew: Founded in 2014 by Janko Lam as a finalist in the REDRESS Awards. The commitment is to create exceptional Chinese classic clothing whilst “minimising water and energy consumption, as well as reducing our carbon footprint during the production process”. Not only are they sustainable, but they are also continuing traditional techniques and crafts from the exquisite tradition of Chinese clothing.
I am sure that if I went to any city, I would find a surprising number of sustainable designers and brands. However, this is Hong Kon, and I am very familiar with the city and its fast pace.
The commitment of these brands and businesses is truly moving and an extraordinary example of the future of fashion. Wherever we can, let’s support these businesses and make an impact!
As always, have fun, love life, and enjoy fashion.
Kate xx