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These days, discerning and design-loving travelers eschew the big international brands in favor of local boutique labels. Nothing beats finding unique gems in a city that has just about anything and everything from all over the world. In Hong Kong, homegrown fashion and lifestyle labels are edgy, unique, and some blend the best of the East and West. If you take quality retail therapy seriously, then get your wardrobe and luggage ready for these precious finds from Hong Kong. You sure didn’t travel all this way to walk into another H&M!
Goods Of Desire
Goods of Desire or G.O.D is one of the most recognizable lifestyle labels. Its Cantonese name means ‘to live better,' and there’s no better name for a lifestyle brand. G.O.D’s designs are fun and vibrant, with a good dose of humor and creativity that blends well with functionality. The brand was founded in 1996 and today, it has multiple stores in Hong Kong and abroad. Take home a ‘Double Happiness’ scented candle, or a tote bag printed with an old map of Tsim Sha Tsui.
Another reason why G.O.D isn’t just your everyday lifestyle label is that it collaborates with many other cultural and social organizations and also iconic brands. A year ago, it collaborated with Starbucks to recreate a traditional Hong Kong café.
For an insight into the design culture of Hong Kong, make an appointment to visit the Goods Of Desire Design Studio and Hong Kong Street Culture Gallery.
SAU
SAU is the brainchild of designer Cheryl Leung, who is inspired by the confident, daring women of women of Hong Kong. SAU’s pieces are anything but run-of-the-mill. Dresses are feminine, classic, and sexy at once, with visible elements of Chinese and European design and cutting that fuse effortlessly. Her designs are timeless, so if you believe in quality rather than quantity, it’s well worth a little splurge.
Paper Shades
Traveling and don’t wait to take your expensive pair of sunnies around with you? Paper Shades is not only a practical alternative but also a very eco-conscious one. Made of recycled materials, Paper Shades was inspired by a brother and sister team that was tired of choosing between fashion that was either too unaffordable or unsustainable. The shades come in wild and funky designs and are also adjustable.
112 Mountain Yam
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Have you ever dressed up for a party or a dinner and had a glass of wine topple over you? Whether or not you’ve had that experience, it’s certainly one of the greatest first-world problems when a toppled tipple ruins your rather expensive outfit. Mountain Yam was inspired by one such event and decided to develop a fashion line that’s not only aesthetically exciting but highly pragmatic. Think water repellent and wrinkle-free features. The label is perfect for active-wear fans who hate to slip into something dressy, as the style combines both elements with sophistication and fun.
MASE
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They say that meditation can give birth to great ideas. Mase was one of those brilliant ideas, and it was born from designer Mae Kwan’s meditation in Bali. A trained architect, Mae Kwan is no stranger to design and vision.
MASE features art prints and accessories ranging from cloth bags to tote and shoulder bags. The designs are vibrant, and even somewhat psychedelic. There is no better way to jazz up a minimalist outfit than with a statement accessory, and it seems that MASE knows a thing or two about making a statement.
PureEarth
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PureEarth is a skincare and wellness that will make all organic and fair trade-lovers sit up. Based in Hong Kong and India, this brand offers products that are formulated without the nasty chemicals, and also has its roots in ancient Ayurvedic philosophy. What goes into the bottles are wild harvested ingredients found in the Himalayas. Products are handmade in small batches, and the brand also works to empower local women by working with self-help groups and micro-credit institutions.
The label’s products have already caught the attention of beauty editors and won awards. It’s not hard to see why. One of the star products is a facial oil that features exotic ingredients like wild seabuckthorn berry and rosehip seed oils with essential oils of Kashmir geranium leaf and frankincense.