Creative Musings: Charles Lam on changing fashion trends and social media

Fashion key opinion leader Charles Lam speaks about initial challenges that he faced, changing fashion trends and the effect of social media

With hundreds of thousands of Instagram and other social media followers and a slew of collaborations with global luxury brands under his belt, digital fashion influencer Charles Lam is undoubtedly well established in the luxury fashion sphere…

What were the biggest challenges you encountered before becoming a leading social media fashion influencer?
The biggest challenge of all was there wasn’t any role model before me. Back then, there was no such thing as a key opinion leader (KOL) or fashion influencer. The term wasn’t there yet. I started with Instagram, which was purely for sharing photos then. By the time the term ‘fashion influencer’ came about, I was probably regarded a pioneer among the first generation. Unlike a teacher who wants to become a principal one day, I didn’t know where I was going. My parents once asked what I was doing because they didn’t have any clue. My friends asked if Instagram offered a career path and suggested for me to do something more solid. There were lots of doubts and I couldn’t tell them if I was going in the right direction. It was a very uncertain journey that I took. Many freelancers faced the same problem – at work one day, but perhaps unemployed the next day.

How did you overcome those challenges?
There is this Chinese saying: “Create wind and waves by yourself”. When the sea is calm, you have to make your own waves for someone to see you. Before I got to work with famous brands and signed legitimate projects, I tried to create many projects. I once owned a very small-scale brand that focused a lot on street wear, mainly shirts. It helped me reach lots of teenagers. You have to be proactive instead of waiting for opportunities to come. You need to create them instead of whining about why opportunities didn’t go your way.

What was the single most important achievement of your C1 Production multimedia company in the past year or two?
The most important was the recent project that we did for Chanel Coco Crush in which I took charge of the whole process, from brainstorming to presenting ideas to the client and the production and post production teams. Everything went smoothly and the client was very happy since almost 100 percent went according to the original idea that I proposed. It’s actually experimental for a jewellery brand to do this type of work in which I injected lots of our own daily life clips into the video that we produced. I think the jewellery we wear truly captures our unique personalities.

“You need to be proactive instead of whining about missed opportunities”

What new projects does C1 Production plan to undertake?
We’ve always been doing videos for Instagram use that’s always been under one minute. But we’re now exploring videos of longer duration because people tell me that C1 Production is not just a production house, but more of a storyteller. We can tell a story within one minute, but we’ll explore videos of longer duration, like three-minute music videos or short movies so we can further enhance the storytelling aspect. We have lots of messages that we would like to communicate. Before 2020, we had been consistently travelling. The work that we’d been doing was very sharp and very short. Since we’re all in Hong Kong this year, we’re thinking of doing more complex, larger-scale storytelling, using bigger sets perhaps or longer shooting times that might take two to three months. I would like to expand C1 Production’s horizon so its work is not confined to just photography and videography, but all are further geared towards creativity.

How do you conceptualise creative ideas for new projects? Is it divine inspiration, research or brainstorming with your colleagues?
The conceptualisation process is always random. I learned, though, how to become more systematic when I was in the university, where I took up advertising design. We were taught how to answer a “how-to-get-to” brief, including identifying who the audience is, what you want to tell them through methods on how you do things. This concept is always on my mind. But concepts and ideas come randomly, and you cannot force them. They sometimes appear in my dreams, but they fade away. So, when I wake up, I try to remember my dreams. I believe ideas also come from music, movies, dramas, everything so I always explore the world through all types of art magazines, and now, through social media. I always browse through different [web] pages and I save lots of posts that demonstrate how they do their editing, how they tell a story, what angles people are using. We don’t copy since research trigger your thoughts to come up with new ideas.

As a fashion KOL, what do you regard as the single most important development in Hong Kong’s fashion industry in the past year or two?
I think the most significant change in Hong Kong and across the world is the decline of “fast fashion”. Fast-fashion houses, like H&M, ZARA and other brands, very very big before. But today, even top brands are closing down outlets. I think there’s a change in trends and people’s mindsets. There is now a shift in focus from quantity towards quality. With Covid-19 in Hong Kong, people may not be shopping as much as before, so they can save up and purchase quality clothes, essentially buying less but more selectively, unlike before. I think fast fashion will continue fading away.

“The most signifiant change in Hong Kong’s fashion scene is the decline of fast fashion”

In the future, what major new fashion trends do you foresee in Hong Kong?
Changes in fast fashion will definitely continue. Individualism will also become a very huge trend. I think people will try to express themselves in more ways because of the rise of different types of social media, like Tiktok. People will try to create fashion in their own ways, like using a pillow to create their own dress. All kinds of very personalised fashion will emerge. People are no longer afraid, and even men have their nails polished and sport all types of hair colours which are very bold and game changing. People will also go for very niche designers who are rising up very quickly. Because of digital platforms, I can, for instance, reach out to a designer in Dubai or in any part of the world.

In what ways can social media bring positive changes to Hong Kong’s fashion scene?
I always think that social media offer different opportunities to lots of people like myself. Recently, Hong Kong Fashion Week was held on social media because a physical show couldn’t be done. Social media serve as a very good platform for everyone to let people know about events. Also, I’m seeing more and more collaboration between different brands and designers through Instagram and Tiktok. It’s all about collaborating and making noises and sparkles between maybe two totally different brands, like for instance Mercedes and Prada and a fashion designer, and creating something that is totally new. Crossover is a term that’s been there for 10 years, but it remains very strong. I would be collaborating and crossing over in some of my future projects. I foresee more crossovers for major brands, like Prada and Dior, and even for small brands as this could fast track their expansion and reach.

Thank you.

Interview by: Jun Concepcion Photos: Jack Law
Fashion Styling & Art Direction: Jhoshwa Ledesma
Hair: Alex Blue (@Orient 4)
Venue: Rosewood Hong Kong
Wardrobe: Dior, Celine, Gucci, Demo, Versace, Louis Vuitton
Jewellery: Piaget

Stretch Master: PURE Group’s Almen Wong on yoga’s myriad benefits

Once a stalwart of Hong Kong’s film and fashion scenes, Almen Wong, co-founder of PURE Group, found a new calling as a yoga instructor and ambassador…

You’re a veteran of Hong Kong’s fashion and movie scene. How did that happen and was that always what you aspired to do?
Actually, I never had any plans to join either industry. I was already working in the garment industry and merchandising business when it all happened by chance. Growing up, I was an absolute tomboy, so I enrolled into a modelling course to learn to be more feminine. Once I finished that, I placed my CV with a few agencies, and I ended up being called for a casting with Elle Magazine. I landed the job, and after that very first fashion shoot, the fashion editor took a shine to me and I wound up signing several jobs with them.
I never thought I could make it a full career, but I continued for about seven or eight years. I also landed my first movie role then, and I went on to work with other amazing actors and directors after that.

Is there any shoot that remains close to your heart?
Honestly there are so many, but the one that made the biggest impression on me was that first shoot for ELLE Magazine. I didn’t know what was expected for me, it started at 6am in the middle of summer and we were shooting heavy fall and winter apparel for the upcoming season. It was such an effortless process, though, and an entirely new experience for me.

What drew you to yoga then?
I’ve always been a very active person. I love exercising and exploring new sports to spice up my fitness routine. Yoga was one of those things that I tried out for fun, and I just fell in love with it. The interesting thing is that although I was pretty proficient with other sports, I really struggled with this. I could only do about 60 percent of the poses, and it was quite a shock to me. I kept going back and trying it repeatedly because the challenge of mastering the stretches was very enticing.

“Yoga was one of those things that I tried out for fun, and I just fell in love with it”

What then led you to co-found PURE Group?
It was always in the back of my mind that after my modelling and movie career, I wanted to have my own gym or fitness centre. So, it was quite a coincidence when Colin, who is now the CEO of PURE Group, approached me to start a fitness and yoga studio in Hong Kong. This was actually what led me to start yoga teacher training, firstly because we struggled to find properly qualified teachers locally, and also because I wanted to better understand what was to become a core aspect of our business.

Can you share three ways that yoga can help a person’s wellbeing?
Yoga helps to improve our flexibility, strength and balance. Through the asana practice, which is the yoga posture practice, you stretch your bones and ligaments, while also stretching your internal organs. All this helps to keep the body healthy and generate blood flow to place where you normally wouldn’t reach. It’s really good for overall wellbeing.
Hong Kong is a particularly fast-paced, stressful city to live in, and it’s important to keep exercising to boost your immune system and mental wellness. Yoga is a great way to achieve all this.

How has Hong Kong’s perception of yoga evolved over time?
In the past, not that many people knew about yoga. But ever since PURE Group introduced it to Asian countries – and Hong Kong in particular – they have started coming to practice and experience the benefits of yoga through their own bodies. They’ve realised it’s not just a bunch of stretching exercises, but also a means of boosting muscle strength and mental health as well.
When we started our first yoga studio about 18 years ago, we probably had classes of just 20 people. That grew to 50 students, and then we branched out into different locations… Now, we’ve expanded to 40 branches across Asia, which is fantastic. We still want to continue to foster a better and broader awareness of yoga, though, and help people understand it’s a great fitness tool for everyone, no matter their background.

How does Hong Kong’s yoga scene compare to its international counterparts?
Hong Kong is such an international city. We actually react to many new trends extremely quickly, be it fashion, make-up or fitness. We were one of the first cities to accept yoga and locals here actually incorporated this practice into their daily lives quite early on, so we’re very similar to the developed markets in Western countries.

“Online yoga classes at PURE have surged in popularity with the onset of Covid-19”

What does an average day for you look like now versus pre-Covid times?
Before the coronavirus pandemic, I was pretty much wholly involved with studio classes, interspersed with occasional video shoots as online tutorials for our students. Covid-19’s arrival, though, heralded lockdowns and closures, but there’s a saying that when a door closes, a window opens, and that really applies to PURE and my work.
Nowadays, my daily routine is equally split between studio and online classes. We had already started setting up a digital platform to provide an additional means for our students to practice yoga, but now we’ve really ramped that up with multiple digital lessons each day. It really is the best way to reach students who prefer to practice at home, or cannot attend session in person due to various reasons. These online classes have become super popular, and we’re looking to expand our programmes in the near future!

Other than yoga, what other hobbies do you like to indulge in?
I love doing outdoor activities with my husband and kids, particularly hiking and water sports. I actually just did some stand-up paddle boarding yesterday with my husband. Mountain biking is also another hobby, though I tend to do that abroad as Hong Kong’s trails are slightly more advanced than my current capabilities…

Finally, if you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?
I’ve been spending more time with my mum recently since her house is currently being renovated, and where I live in the Mid-Levels is actually where my mother had her first job. She was born during the ’30s when Hong Kong was really experiencing difficult times, and at the tender age of 12, she was already working as a nanny. I want to travel back to meet her at that point, and to tell my mum to hang in there, and that she will eventually have a great life with four daughters who will spoil her rotten.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law
Fashion Styling & Art Direction: Jhoshwa Ledesma
Venue: Marvellous Suite, W Hong Kong
Wardrobe: Versace, Giuseppe Zanotti, Dolce & Gabbana

Digital Maven: Mastermind behind Save HK, Adrian Ho has found a new calling

Adrian Ho, Executive Director of China Water & Energy Limited, on investing in clean energy in Xinjiang, and building a 185,000-strong following for his Facebook group, Save HK…

What was your childhood and upbringing like?
I grew up in the ’80s in Hong Kong, and my childhood, to this day, is one of the best periods of my life. I grew up in a very traditional family with strong family values. I have two siblings that I’m still close with to this day, and our parents were wonderful providers who ensured we never needed to worry about anything except school, which was truly a blessing.

Tell us about your parents and the impact they had on you.
My father is a businessman and my mother was a full-time homemaker, so she stayed home to take care of three kids. Everything they did was in the best interest of the family, and it still is to this day. I was raised in a very strict, traditional Chinese family and my parents had very high expectations for my siblings and myself, and that in turn made us expect more of ourselves as well. I am so grateful and I feel so lucky for their support.

What path did your education take?
Growing up, I was enrolled in a local school in Hong Kong. During that time, there was an immigration wave of people migrating to Canada, including many of my relatives, but my parents chose to stay and put us through the education system here. I went to La Salle Primary School, then to La Salle College.
At 13, I moved to become a boarding student at the Repton School in Darbyshire, UK for five years. After graduating, I wanted to see something new and make a change after five years in the UK, so I enrolled in a university in the US. I was admitted to the Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania, and I got my bachelor’s degree in finance there in 2000. Back then, I didn’t want to pursue a career in finance, but it was one of the most popular majors, and one that my parents encouraged.

How did you start your professional career?
After graduating, I returned to Hong Kong. I had been away from home for nine years, and despite the outbreak of the Asian Financial Crisis, I wanted to return to the city and my family. I started working for a local investment bank for three years, before moving onto a Taiwanese boutique investment firm with a much more Western work culture. In all, I was a banker for seven years.

Why did you give up banking?

It actually came about because my friend and I were having a conversation about a hot topic at the time, and because it was not related to finance, I had absolutely no idea. I realised that my world was completely immersed in the finance and banking sphere, and anything beyond that was foreign to me. I wanted to expand my horizons from that, so I quit banking and started my own business.

“I wanted to expand my horizons, so I quit banking and started my own business”

Tell us about your company, China Water & Energy Limited, and your wind energy projects in Xinjiang.
We started off importing high-quality foreign disinfectant products into Hong Kong. After two years, though, we were overrun by bigger businesses with better funding, so we knew we had to evolve into something else. Coincidentally, we were introduced into the energy sector. I’ve always been interested in the environmental business, conservation and protection, and I wanted to get into that. We were introduced to wind energy when we consulted on a wind energy project for some folks who had worked for GE Energy Finance, and we realised we should pursue this in China in an investor capacity. At the time, wind energy was already a mature industry there, so we wanted to find a less developed location with untapped potential. That’s why we chose Xinjiang and today we invest in wind farms there.

How has Covid-19 impacted your daily routine?
To be honest, even before the pandemic, the bulk of my work was done remotely over the phone or through emails, so the only real difference is the lack of travel. My schedule used to vary from flying weekly to once a month into China, and that has definitely been put on pause now.

What led you to start Save HK? When did you found it?
Our Facebook group Save HK actually just celebrated its first-year anniversary. It actually came about as a beautiful coincidence. My friend and I were talking about the situation in Hong Kong, how troublesome and chaotic it had become. He was the one who suggested opening a social media group to let close friends and family talk about the current situation and Hong Kong’s future safely without being judged or attacked, particularly because at that time, it wasn’t popular to voice certain opinion.
That very night, we started the group with five or six close friends. To tell you the truth, we never envisioned it would grow to become what it is today, it was just supposed to be for us. Then word started to get out that there is a closed Facebook group for people to voice their opinions and suddenly, it became very popular amongst rational Hong Kong people. The rest is history, and today we have 185,000 members.

Can you tell us what Save HK’s philosophy is all about?
Basically we are a closed Facebook group that encourages our members to voice their opinions and share their vision for Hong Kong’s future. In particular we want to maintain a safe space for people to be able to talk about the recent troubles without judgment and how we can help Hong Kong become better. We also want to leverage our presence into offline activities that can help Hongkongers, such as charity work to help people in need. In terms of future plans, we hope to expand our charitable activities to help even more people in Hong Kong, while also trying to unite more rational people to help each other during these hard times.

What is the secret to Save HK’s success?
I think it’s because we are able to accommodate a wider spectrum of opinions, even among the rational set. I think this is how we differentiate ourselves from similar groups, because they only allow a much narrower spectrum of opinions.
Also, when we started Save HK, there was a huge reliance on the founders to maintain the group with different posts and opinions and comments. So I believe one of the biggest reasons for our success is that the group’s founders all come from a very similar background with a similar point of view. From the beginning, I think people realised that we were rational, educated and civilised people, and I think other like-minded people were very drawn to finding this safe space.
As I mentioned, the original idea was never to have 185,000 members. Our growth was 100 percent driven by word of mouth, and today you see members from different parts of the world, different careers and education and an even broader purview than our original niche positioning.

What are Save HK’s biggest successes?
With the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, we at Save HK wanted to help the community so we started to brainstorm on some ideas. One of those was to distribute masks and disinfectant products to those in need. We’ve done a few trips around town to low-income areas to ensure they have enough supplies during this difficult time. We also recently held an online fundraising concert in June and we were able to raise over HK$500,000 for two local charities that primarily help single-parent families as well as children from a low-income background, so I’m very proud of that as well.

“Save HK’s growth was 100 percent driven by word of mouth… we now have 185,000 members”

Any upcoming projects or collaborations?
Actually, we just finished an exciting project. A new song was written and composed by a Save HK member, and I arranged it to be performed by several KOLs. It was just released this morning, and it pays tribute to front-line medical workers, especially the ones who came from China. It’s very meaningful and I’m very proud of it.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
A family elder once told me that success can only be determined in a 20-year timeframe. What you do now, be it failure or achievement, can only be deemed as such in hindsight. If you’ve stumbled, don’t give up, the race isn’t finished.

What’s a secret people don’t know about you.
I’ve never watched Titanic, nor do I want to.

RAPID-FIRE ROUND
Favourite movie: Die Hard
Favourite movie quote: “Sometimes you just got to say what the F, make your move” – Risky Business
Biggest item on your bucket list: To write a song
Favourite sport: Wrestling
The Rock or Stone Cold: Stone Cold by a hair. When I saw my first Wrestlemania in Boston, that’s when he won his first championship.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law
Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma
Venue: Bertie’s Cigars

Management Star: As Director of Business Development for Keyestone Group, Edwin Pun occupies many roles

Sitting in the plush Cotton Tree Drive Suite of The Murray, Hong Kong, Keyestone Group Director Edwin Pun discusses his passions, projects and more…

Tell us a little about your family background.

I grew up in a very lively and close-knit family. I have five siblings, and we’re all extremely close. It was definitely a very noisy house growing up, but one that was full of love. My parents have always been extremely supportive of all of us, and allowed us to choose our own path without fail.

For example, when I was a kid, I was first enrolled in a local school, but I couldn’t really fit into that system. While I wasn’t bullied or depressed or anything, I did struggle a little to find friends and I think my mindset was very different, so I really wanted to join an international school instead, one that would be more broad-minded and welcoming. When I approached my parents about it, they were fully accepting and allowed me to enrol at the Australian International School instead.

And where did your path take you after that?

After graduating from high school, I then completed my undergraduate degree at George Washington University in the US, majoring in international business and finance. After that, I returned to Hong Kong with the aim of becoming a management consultant. I’d always wanted to join that industry, because I thought it was so cool. There’s a lot of exposure, every day is different, you get to deal with a variety of clients and projects… after college, I was ready to start solving big problems.

Unfortunately, my graduation coincided with the global financial crisis and the job scene was quite bleak. That’s when I decided to join the family business, Keyestone Group, instead. It definitely wasn’t the career trajectory that I’d imagined for myself, but it was extremely rewarding, particularly given that I had to be very flexible and learn skills on the job. Be it understanding the materials used in construction, the approval process with the government, collaborating with designers… it was a seriously steep learning curve, and no one person could have taught me all the skills I needed, it all had to be acquired through experience.

Did you ever return to your first love, management consulting?

Actually, yes. It did take some doing though. While I was already working at Keyestone, in the back of my mind, I still wanted to give management consulting a serious go. But when I talked to people in the industry, the feedback I got was that even though I had lots of experience in the construction industry, as an undergraduate degree holder without a specialisation like engineering or accounting, I would have to undertake further education. That’s when I decided to enroll at the University of Southern California to pursue an MBA degree. Once I had that qualification, I finally got into consulting. It was just for two years, but it really changed the way I viewed management. It was really valuable in furthering my career, because it taught me how to implement all the theoretical knowledge I’d acquired in the real world, be it driving change, implementing new systems, bringing new projects to fruition… it basically taught me lifelong skills in running a company. It really gave me a strong foundation that still serves me well as a Director of Keyestone Group.

“From construction to design to development to internal admin… I wear a lot of hats”

What do you feel are the benefits of working in a family business, and how large an impact have your parents had on your life and career?

My father is pretty much one of the most hard-working people I know. It’s not uncommon for him to work on Saturdays, and even the occasional Sunday. My mum is also very diligent, but beyond that she knows how to work smartly. I really admire her, having juggled raising all of us while still maintaining a successful career all at the same time. I thinking having that kind of background, I always see them as the benchmark for perseverance, determination and business acumen.

I actually rejoined Keyestone Group at the behest of my father. After being a management consultant for a couple of years, he was the one who said it was time to come back to the fold and take my place in the business. As I mentioned, we’re a very close family with very ingrained family values, so when he suggested my return, I felt it was my duty to do so, to continue the family legacy. Of course, simultaneously, I was very excited to undertake new projects and responsibilities as well.

I think the luxury of working in a family business is that if I failed, I failed in a safe environment and there was always a support system to share that burden. Equally importantly, it gives me the freedom to raise new ideas without fear of judgment.

So, as Keyestone Group’s Director of Business Development, what does your job entail exactly?

I oversee everything from construction to designs to a lot of business development, day-to-day operations, internal administration… I tend to wear a lot of hats, so it’s difficult to pinpoint just one or two things that come under my purview. It really depends on the phase of whatever phase a given project is at, and what exactly we’re working on at any given time. It’s quite a wide spectrum and I’m very involved in every aspect of what happens in the company.

What is the most challenging aspect of your work, and what is the most rewarding?

I would say perhaps the most challenging aspect is continually encouraging originality and creativity from our employees while still maintaining a high standard of work. Constantly driving that kind of imagination and innovation as part of our corporate culture is difficult, particularly as Hong Kong’s work ethic is such that many follow a more by-the-book approach and are uncomfortable with raising new ideas or standing out too much.

The most rewarding part of my job is definitely seeing a project completed. It’s always gratifying when, after years of hard work, you see your vision come to fruition.

Are there any new projects on the horizon that you’re particularly excited for?

Actually, we are currently working on several developments, including some residential projects. A particularly exciting venture we’re currently involved with, though, is a mixed-use development that encompasses a theme park, a hotel, retail spaces as well as a portion for commercial sales. The theme park is due to open in 2024, and it’s something that’s really exciting for me personally, particularly because the calibre of the creative minds and designers that we’re bringing onboard are industry leaders who are at the top of their game. It wows me because it’s a very novel concept, one that I think will be something of a game changer. I can’t share its name just yet, but watch this space…

Finally, what’s at the top of your wish list?

This may sound silly, but I’d love to be able to enjoy family meals without discussing work. It’s kind of a hazard of running a family business, where my siblings, father and I always branch off to talk about current projects or upcoming meetings… It would be nice to enjoy dinners as just a regular family gathering sometimes!

Thank you.

Interview: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law
Styling & Art Direction: Jhoshwa Ledesma
Hair: Steve@HAiR
Make-up: KeiKei Ng
Wardrobe: Salvatore Ferragamo, Brunello Cucinelli
Venue: The Murray, Hong Kong

Design Perspective: Candice Chan, Founder of J Candice Interior Architects, on the inspirations behind her award-winning interior designs

As the founder and creative director of J Candice Interior Architects, Candice Chan shares her unique views on Hong Kong’s interior design scene, the benefits of the female perspective and the trials and triumphs of balancing motherhood with a successful career…

Design Perspective Candice Chan J Candice Interior Architects gafencu magazine people interview feature 1

Can you describe your journey to becoming an interior designer?

I was pretty much born and raised in Hong Kong and spent my childhood until high school here. After graduating, I enrolled in New York’s Syracuse University, majoring in interior design. I then moved to New York City and worked for a mid-sized architectural firm which specialised in historical preservation work. I worked there for three years, and that was my first job as an interior designer.

I still remember my first day there, when my advisor asked me to meet her at an old Broadway theatre in Manhattan. Everything was under scaffolding and we had to walk up a staircase to reach the top. Once there, I saw that we had reached the theatre’s ceiling, and there were all these artists doing restoration work on the crown modings and paintings… It was stunning to see all of that in action, and it made a big impression on me.

Design Perspective Candice Chan J Candice Interior Architects gafencu magazine people interview feature - 5

Did you always know you wanted to be an interior design?

I think I did once want to become a shoe designer or an animal trainer or something to that end when I was a child, but by the age of 13 or 14, I naturally gravitated towards interior design. I think what really steered me towards that passion was seeing my parents – who were in the F&B business – launch new restaurants. They’d always take me along to construction sites and ask me what I imagined the space would look like, and I would immediately conjure up everything from colours and textures to how customers would interact with the area. I even told myself that I would have to set up my own design firm by the time I turned 30.

“It’s not just the visual aspects of travel that inspire me, it’s the emotions and atmospheres as well”

And did you manage to fulfil your childhood dream?

Actually yes, and even earlier than my target age! When my husband moved to Hong Kong 10 years ago, I followed him back here and decided to launch my own business – J Candice Interior Architects.

What is the driving philosophy behind J Candice Interior Architects?

Well, being led by a female designer, we offer a different point of view. In general, we’re great listeners, so we really emphasise listening to the client’s design brief to get a true understanding of exactly what they’re looking for. Also, as a woman, the ego enters the equation a lot less. Rather than putting our own personality into a project, for example, we’re dedicated to placing the client’s interest in the foreground and following their exact vision.

Where do you find inspirations for your designs?

Well, we have a very broad portfolio – commercial properties, F&B, kindergardens, hotels – we like doing all sorts of things, and travel is pretty much the main source of inspiration for these designs. It’s not just the visual and physical aspects of things I see abroad, but it’s also the emotion and atmosphere they evoke. For example, my husband and I visited a tango club in Argentina years ago, and I still remember the energy, the thrumming music, the vibrant dancing… and this is something I’ve drawn upon when creating spaces like that now.

Design Perspective Candice Chan J Candice Interior Architects gafencu magazine people interview feature - 4

Of all the designs you’ve worked on, are there one or two that are particularly close to your heart?

Yes, definitely. Where we are right now at the private boxes of the Jockey Club Happy Valley Racecourse is a great example of a personal creation that I’m especially proud of. The boxes have a stunning view of the racecourse and parade ground, and it’s a place where you can really entertain your friends and family, have great pet encounters and so forth. Those who know me know I love to place a few bets, so this project really allowed me to work on something that personally connects with me.

Another special one would be redesigning the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong’s cake shop. It’s a place where my now-husband and I used to while away resonated with me emotionally to be able to envision a new concept for the space.

What are some upcoming projects that you’re looking forward to?

We’re currently building the Radison Red Hotel in Guangzhou, which is a 10-minute walk from the Guangzhou train station. It has 180 rooms and includes restaurants and function rooms, all of which we’re designing so that’s super exciting for us. We also have a few upcoming F&B outlets at the soon-to-open Grand Lisboa Palace in Macau. In particular, we are working on a 20-seat Japanese restaurant to be led by a Michelin-starred chef from Japan, and I’m thrilled to be helming that design as well.

You’ve received a plethora of awards over your career, most recently including the Asia Pacific Interior Design Award by the Hong Kong Interior Design Association. Which one means the most to you and why?

It’s always an honour to receive awards, and it’s a great recognition for the entire team. Having said that, I don’t set out to chase awards, I’m more content when I walk into the office everyday and make a living out of doing something I love. If I had to choose an award, though, it would be the first one, the “Most Promising Young Lady” award I received. I received that accolade when I’d just started out, and it was hugely gratifying to have someone else recognise my talents when I still wasn’t certain of how much I’d eventually achieve. It was definitely a major confidence booster at the time.

What are some of the challenges faced by Hong Kong interior designers compared to their international counterparts?

In Hong Kong, the major challenges that interior designers like us face is probably space limitations. Everything is on a much smaller scale than you’d find elsewhere because land is so expensive here. Also, there’s not much variety in the layout of space or landscapes. It’s rather repetitive. Ultimately, this means everyone emphasises things like storage areas and space efficiency, rather than opting for a more innovative approach. In a way, it limits our creative capacity, but it also has the happy benefit of making us more adaptable and flexible in our designs.

Design Perspective Candice Chan J Candice Interior Architects gafencu magazine people interview feature - 8

Can you share a major obstacle you’ve faced in your career, and how you overcame that?

This year! 2020 has been a challenge for everyone in Hong Kong, for everyone in the whole world. A lot of projects we’d undertaken were put on hold once Covid-19 hit at the beginning of the year, including several F&B outlets, and some were even cancelled because of the economic situation.

“Covid-19 pushed me to take on different types of projects, so it was something of a blessing in disguise”

It was obviously tough, but I just tapped into a different mental zone and set out to find new opportunities instead. At the time, there was a sudden influx of residential projects, maybe contributed to by the fact that people who were stuck at home suddenly decided that it was time to renovate and refurbish their houses. In the past, I was a little reluctant to venture into the residential side of design, because I was afraid I’d get too attached to those kinds of projects, but Covid-19 was just the push I needed to get my feet wet. The past few months has seen us pick up several residential ventures and learn new things, so it was a bit of a blessing in disguise.

Design Perspective Candice Chan J Candice Interior Architects gafencu magazine people interview feature -6

As a female business owner, do you find it difficult to balance your career and motherhood?

Definitely. I have three little ones at home aged seven, four and one-and-a-half, so they need my attention constantly. Obviously, I make sure that I meet all my work responsibilities, but as a mother, you don’t want to miss out on any milestones, especially when they’re so young. So I try to attend all their school activities and ensure I’m home for dinner every day. Growing up, my parents had a similar rule, and I really enjoyed having that time to talk with my mum and dad, so I want to encourage a similar atmosphere with my kids. Playing with them and watching them grow is really my biggest hobby right now.

Finally, if you could visit any place on Earth, past or present, when would it be and why?

I once saw a photograph taken by legendary Swiss photographer René Burri in the ’60s of two monks in Kyoto bowing to each other, and there was something so romantic and organic that really made me want to be there. I think the world today is so full of technology and bright lights and so much constant stimulation that you can never really switch off.

Thank you.

Interview: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law
Styling & Art Direction: Jhoshwa Ledesma
Venue: Hong Kong Jockey Club Happy Valley Racecourse
Jewellery: No. THIRTY THREE

Jewellery Niinja: Jeanine Hsu, founder of niin, shares some golden memories, celebrating ten years of ecofriendly jewellery

Jeanine Hsu has transformed her passion for art and fashion and with her drive for sustainable business practices into a hugely successful global eco-jewellery brand – niin. We sit down with her to find out more as she looks back on a decade of sustainably-sourced success…

You have quite eclectic origins…

Yes, I have an Austrian mother and a Chinese father, a combination that has seen me travel quite a bit. I was born in London, but moved to Hong Kong when I was seven, then returned to the UK for my last couple of years of high school. My school was like a little cottage in the midst of huge green space. At the time, I felt that being immersed in nature was akin to finding my happy place. I was fortunate to have had such a multicultural upbringing.

How did your education progress?

After finishing boarding school, I went straight into a foundation degree in art and design at the Wimbledon School of Art, which nurtured my love of sculpture, painting and fashion. After that, I decided that, if I was accepted into Central Saint Martins, I would pursue a career in fashion. To my surprise I got in. The rest, as they say, is history…

And once you received your degree…

I immediately started working for a number of fashion brands in London – particularly up-and-coming ones (as well as Vivienne Westwood) during London Fashion Week and I was a creative assistant. I also worked in the operatic and theatrical sphere in Austria during the festival period, creating costumes for performances like Mitridate and Der Jude Von Malta, At the same time, I was selling Indian jewellery every Saturday at London’s Portobello Market that I had sourced from a family friend. While I saw that primarily as a way to supplement my wages, it was where I learnt to work hard waking up at 4 am every Saturday, come rain or shine. It was also where I discovered that jewellery was something that allowed me to combine my love of sculpture and fashion.

Did the desire to be a designer also date back to that time?

When I was young, I was not particularly into fashion, but I was always very conscious of style. I was into designing and drawing and I always felt happy and content when I was being creative. While I never really knew exactly what I wanted to do, I had a naïve and somewhat romantic dream of doing my own thing, whatever that might turn out to be. That aspiration led me to initially pursue a career in fashion and, later, to designing jewellery for my own eco-friendly brand – niin.

What led you to start that particular brand?

Having worked for a number of years in the costume design and fashion industries, I was well aware of just how much waste there was and that really bothered me. I started to question whether that had to be the case and it became my mission to create a brand where, from beginning to end, I would only make use of waste / offcut materials and where the designs would be eco-friendly, while still making people look and feel great.

What truly sets niin apart?

At heart, it’s a global eco-jewellery brand that is sustainably and ethically-sourced and one where I design and source everything myself, while always striving for as small an environmental footprint as possible. We use smaller, artisanal workshops, supporting talent in rural areas and we give back via targeted charitable donations. We would like to reach a point where everything we use is sourced from recyclable materials and where we can help the communities that form part of our production chain.

In the more than 10 years since niin launched, our procurement process has become more and more eco-friendly. The use of abalone shells, for instance, typically requires trawling the seabed, but I hit upon the idea of sourcing them from seafood restaurants. It’s something we first tried on Lamma Island, where we asked restaurateurs if we could have the shells they’d already used. We now also ask furniture companies for the offcuts from their production lines, which we then use in my designs. The priority when using sustainably-sourced materials is transparency – I want to know exactly where they’re coming from.

Where do you find inspiration from?

Pretty much from everything I encounter on a day-today basis. Of course, I feel the most creative when I’m immersed in nature, as I think that really helps with my mindset. That’s where living in Hong Kong really helps – go twenty minutes in any direction and you will find yourself in the midst of a forest green or beachy blue space.

What’s next for niin?

We’re in the process of expanding across the region. We launched in China last year, and now we’re looking at setting up in Bali. We also have some exciting collaborations coming up, but I can’t say too much about them right now…

In 2017, you received the Women for Hope Eco-Warrior Award. How important was that for you?

I wasn’t expecting it at all, so it was a lovely surprise, while also being super humbling. It made me feel really proud. Prior to that, I felt like I was just doing my own thing in my own little bubble, so receiving the award really gave me the drive to carry on pursuing my craft. The award also put me in contact with other like-minded women, creating a whole new support network for me.

Are there any other projects that are currently exciting you?

Oh, absolutely! When I was first starting out in the jewellery industry, my sister-in-law introduced me to a community of Filipino craftspeople. Now, 10 years on, I. I Will help to set up a vocational training school for the community. We’ve just confirmed the project and I’m so happy to be able to give back to people who really helped me get niin noticed in the first place.

What’s been your greatest achievement to date?

Undoubtedly, my kids. I have learnt so much about myself from my three sons, while also coming to understand what it means to be truly selfless. When it comes to raising children, you have to give 100 percent of yourseit is the most challenging and rewarding experience imaginable.

Finally, what’s the key item still lingering on your bucket list?

Visiting South America I was supposed to go with my girlfriends after graduating high school, but I ended up enrolling on an art foundation course instead. When my boys are older, it remains my dream to travel there with them and my husband.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law
Art Direction: San Wong
Make-up & Hair: Margaret Wong
Venue: Gaia Ristorante

A Patient’s Man: Dr Kevin Lau on compassion in medicine and giving back

A stalwart on Hong Kong’s charity circuit, Dr Kevin Lau, founder of Trinity Medical Centre, maintains hospitals need to be more hospitable, and expounds on the importance of helping those less fortunate…

What are the most important things you remember from your early years?
Well, I was born in Hong Kong, but my family emigrated to Canada when I was just seven years old, which is really where I grew up. It was another seven years before we returned to Hong Kong, allowing me to complete my education at Island School. I then enrolled to study medicine at HKU, subsequently completing my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme there, before moving on to become a specialist in radiology.

Dr Kevin Lau 1 — Dr Kevin Lau, founder of Trinity Medical Centre

Had the medical profession always beckoned?
To be honest, I didn’t grow up thinking I was destined to be a doctor. In fact, I was open-minded as to what I might do and keen to explore different paths. In the summer prior to my last year at high school, it was my mother who steered me toward medicine, suggesting that I became a volunteer at the Queen Mary Hospital. That proved a life-changing experience.

Up until then, as I’d come from a fairly privileged background, I’d rarely interacted with doctors and hardly at all with patients, so spending time at a hospital gave me an entirely new outlook on life. One patient that I became particularly close to was suffering from end-stage renal failure and had to have dialysis constantly. For me, it was a real eye-opener to talk to someone with such a chronic illness, to witness their emotions and to come to understand their needs at such proximity. It made me realise that being a doctor wasn’t just about prescribing medicine or specifying treatment. No, instead it was about making very real human connections and demonstrating the kind of empathy that can make a world of difference. It was that realisation that, ultimately, led to my decision to become a doctor.

What made radiology stand out as your preferred specialty?
I’ve always been influenced by the many great teachers I’ve met along the way and, in particular, I really looked up to my radiology professors at HKU. While they were incredibly giving towards their patients, they were equally dedicated and committed when it came to their research responsibilities. I also found that I preferred seeing one patient through the whole course of their treatment, which was, again, something that radiology facilitated.

You now run your own practice…
Yes – the Trinity Medical Centre, which I launched with my partner back in 2016. Given my specialty in radiology, we initially set up as an imaging service centre. Over the years, though, we’ve also established a dedicated medical unit that services insurance companies with regard to policy application check-ups, while undertaking a number of general lab procedures, such as genetic tests and health check-ups.

From our point of view, while medical and professional standards are typically very high in Hong Kong, there are often shortcomings in terms of how people are treated on a personal level. As a result, we are always at pains to deliver more empathy and compassion when dealing with patients. From the very beginning, that’s what my partner and I wanted Trinity to become synonymous with. It was always our aim to offer the highest level of professional medical services, while maintaining a five-star hospitality feel.

It’s an approach that’s been pretty well-received, so much so that we’ve expanded. Not only have we doubled the space we occupy in Central Building, we also opened a separate medical centre in Tsim Sha Tsui two years ago.

Overall, how do you feel Hong Kong’s medical sector compares to others around the world?
Well, Hong Kong spends roughly three to four percent of its annual GDP on the city’s medical needs. Bearing that in mind, we have achieved some pretty amazing things. Let’s look at one obvious metric – life expectancy. People in Hong Kong, on average, live longer than people anywhere else in the world – and that’s something we should all be very proud of.

Another significant statistic relates to our high cancer survival rates, something that medical professionals associate with the quality of a city’s healthcare system. While there are still aspects of our system that could be improved, I think we should still be proud of what we have achieved.

On a more personal note, what has been the most rewarding thing for you career-wise?
Every time someone comes in for a regular scan and we manage to detect cancer at an early stage, that’s hugely gratifying. This is particularly the case with something like lung cancer. If we can catch it at an early enough stage, there are a wide range of very effective medical options on offer.

In addition to that, there are occasions when our work has clearly improved the everyday lives of patients. I took part in research, for instance, into the use of MRIs to help diagnose breast cancer. This showed that, ultimately, MRIs were a highly accurate non-invasive way of determining whether complete mastectomies were required or whether breast conservation surgery remained an option.

You are famously committed to giving back to society. Where do you think that compulsion stems from?
I think it’s something that dates back to when I was at Island School. It was an international school, so we were all aware that we were quite privileged and I distinctly remember the vice-principal always reminding us just how fortunate we were. That kind of privilege, though, brings with it responsibility and an obligation to help those less fortunate. And, as you achieve more in your life, that responsibility also increases proportionately.

Which causes are currently particularly close to your heart?
Anything relating to healthcare in general and children in particular has always been important to me. Having said that, the one cause that most people associate me with is the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity I’ve been involved with since my university days. I first signed up as a volunteer and was later appointed to the board here in Hong Kong. In 2012, I was then asked to take over as chair, something that I continued to do until 2018. Locally, I now serve as an honorary advisor and, in 2019, I was invited to join the Foundation’s international board, which has seen me heavily involved in the plans for its 40th anniversary celebrations later this year.

As well as your private charity work, you’re also involved with several government bodies…
Yes, for one, I’m on the board of the Children Development Fund, a government charity that helps low-income families by providing mentorship programmes and work experience for young people. Caring for the elderly is another cause close to my heart and, in line with that, I’m a member of the Industry Training Advisory Committee for Elderly Care Services. There really isn’t enough focus on geriatric care in Hong Kong and, with our increasingly ageing population, this really needs to be a priority. The biggest challenge is just how difficult it is to recruit and train enough people and that’s now the Committee’s primary objective.

Given all your varied commitments, do you actually find any time to relax?
Well, as I have three young children, I like to spend as much of my free time at home as I possibly can. My wife and I also encourage each other to take some time out for ourselves, which I think is hugely important, as it gives us the support we need to fulfil all our varied responsibilities.

Thank you.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law
Art Direction: San Wong
Venue: Director Suite @ The Langham, Hong Kong

Scent Master

Patrick Hui, founder of Scented Niche, on his favourite fragrances, finding boutique scents and delivering independent labels to his discerning Hong Kong clientele.

When did you personally become involved with fragrances? Can you give us a little bit of your own background?

I first started using perfumes when I was in high school, but it was when I went to study in the UK that I realised just how big that world really was. Europe has such a mature perfume culture, for example, there are 700 perfume boutiques in Italy alone. I’ve been enamoured with scents ever since then.

Tell us a little about Scented Niche.

Scented Niche is a boutique perfume shop that brings exclusive scents to our scent lovers in Asia. We try to keep everything minimalist, only carrying creations from independent houses, rather than mass produced ones. Currently we have eight brands in all, which includes a range of perfumes, scented candles and home fragrances.

So these are all scents from independent houses?

All of them are from independently owned houses. For me, there’s a big difference between independent brands and designer perfumes. Big brands usually produce scents formulaically so as to develop a best-seller. Independently-owned perfumeries are different, they try to create something unique, something that doesn’t follow the trends, that are classic and timeless. Fine fragrances – those made by independent houses – can take anywhere from six months to three years to develop for each perfume.

You have said that fragrances shouldn’t be mass produced. Why do you think that?

Most of the designer perfumes are mass produced. The company spends a lot of money on marketing and also the packaging of the perfume bottle itself. All of this cuts into the budget to actually create a great, unique scent. Also, big brands have a really wide channel distribution. We could see it on counters, department stores, a lot of companies and online channels. This cuts down on the exclusivity of the actual product.

What can customers expect when they visit Scented Niche?

The first thing that they will experience is our friendly staff, all of whom are passionate about perfumes. They are trained to help visitors find just the right scent that they’re looking for, based on personal scent preferences, previous fragrances they’ve bought and so forth. They can then introduce them to those products created by the independent brands we carry and find a perfect match. In many cases, customers have previously relied on designer perfumes, but have become disenchanted with their short lifespan and want something that will be more unique while also long-lasting.

How do you find new products for Scented Niche?

We work directly with perfume houses and then we have them send the samples here. So we test their scents but we also evaluate how their development strategy is over the next year. We just want to make sure they are not too mass-market, that they have no plans to enter wide distribution channels like department stores. We will also evaluate the sellers’ online sales – particularly because many Hongkongers purchase their perfumes digitally. In both instances, wide distribution can confuse consumers and cause deregulated prices for goods, which we try to avoid.

Do you guys also do crowd testing before you introduce your products?

Not in any formal capacity, not, but every time we find something with potential, we ask our important VIP clients to also test them out. After all, many of our customers personally own 600 to 900 bottles in their fragrance collections. They’ve smelled many scents and they know what they like, so they help us gage how other people will feel about it as well.

You started Scented Niche in Hong Kong. Why did you choose Hong Kong as your place?

Hong Kong consumers are quite unique. It’s a very mature market and they’re very multicultural. They know what they want. In many cases, true perfume aficionados either have to travel overseas to find new, unique scents or to settle for more mass market designer perfumes that aren’t as exclusive as what they’re looking for. Ultimately, we thought Scented Niche’s motto of finding the best boutique fragrances would definitely be embraced by these discerning customers.

Given you have all the perfumes here, do you have any favourite scents and why?

I do have some favourite fragrances among the current stock we have here. Chypre Palatin from Parfums MDCI is one of my favourites because it is something I wear for occasions when I go out in the night. I won’t wear it every day. It is not as linear as the other daily-wear perfumes, it’s a statement-making scent.

Can you give us an idea of what kind of smell it is?

It is a very complicated perfume made by world class perfumer, Bertrand Duchaufour. Even though it has a vintage Chypre structure (citrus opening with a combination of floral notes at the heart, oak moss and balsamic resins at the base), it doesn’t smell too old with all the floral absolutes in the heart. I would say it’s good for both men and women, even though it was created as a masculine perfume. It’s a very modern homage to the nostalgic scents of yesteryears.

Finally, do you have any new projects on the horizon?

This past year has been a very big one for us at Scented Niche, and we believe 2020 will be even better. We’re looking to open a second location in Hong Kong, which I’m super excited for, and we also want to expand on our current collections of offerings so that our customers can find even more fragrances that they like.

Thank you.

Head Baa Man

Syed Asim Hussian, Co-Founder of Black Sheep, Hong Kong’s most intriguing F&B chain, talks to Gafencu about the success of his restaurants and his role in it.

With your family already successful Hong Kong restaurateurs, did you always feel destined for the hospitality sector?

I have always felt like that. This business is in my blood and in my bones. My brother and I started working in my father’s restaurant when he was just 12 and I was just 11. Even at that age, I knew this business was all about looking after your customers and that’s always been how I’ve seen it. While outsiders often seem to think the restaurant business is all about fine wine, beautiful people and virtuoso music performances, it’s really not. It’s about you coming to my house, and me taking good care of you. If I look after you well, then you’re going to come back.

Black Sheep Restaurants Co-Founder Syed Asim Hussain

At university, you studied finance and international relations, rather than anything hospitality-focused. Was that a deliberate move?

If I’m honest, finance was a sort of a mistake, I fell into it because my university was primarily known for its business and engineering programs. As I had no aptitude for engineering, I naturally gravitated toward the business school. As to international relations, well that was more out of personal interest. To this day, global affairs and international politics continue to fascinate me and I still read every issue of The Economist from cover to cover.

After graduating, you worked in New York as banker. How did that experience shape your subsequent career?

Well, as I graduated in 2007, the financial crisis hit its height not long after I started work and banks were soon looking at cutting staff numbers. As I really didn’t want to be fired from my first job, I decided then that I had to be the best at everything I did – even if that meant, sometimes, being the best bagel runner. That is, basically, how I survived at the bank.

There was, however, something interesting happening in the restaurant world at about the same time. The traditional 7pm-11pm fine dining market was stagnating and people were just not spending as much on eating out as they used to. This, of course, was partly down to the fact that banks and consultancies had slashed their entertainment budgets. As a result, though, you started to see a number of restaurants emerging where the emphasis was on providing great value for money. I was on the sidelines of this but couldn’t help thinking what a great concept it was, while wondering if the concept could be replicated in my own home city.

This is what then led you to co-found Black Sheep Restaurants?

While I knew I was going to return to Hong Kong and test out this new idea, initially I had no intention of launching out on my own. My plan was to come back and relearn all the things I thought I needed to know. This led me to take up an apprenticeship with a prominent Hong Kong restaurant group and that was my life for about 18 months.

Although I had a vision of how I wanted to progress from there, for quite a while things failed to fall into place. I was then fortunate enough to meet Chris Mark, the guy who ultimately became my business partner. During our first encounter, he was actually quite disparaging towards me, even going as far as telling me he had lost money when he had bet I wouldn’t continue my apprenticeship after the first day. After that, though, we seemed to click and we soon realised we shared many similar ideas and had a similar approach to business. The rest, as they say, is history.

Black Sheep seems to pride itself on its embrace of a wide range of different cuisines, so how do you ensure they all remain authentic?

Honestly? We don’t try to. We have a creative resource, which is Chris and myself, that’s a blend of nostalgia, curiosity and pure fantasy. Whenever we try new things, it’s always that creative well we draw on. I also think that ‘authentic’ is something of a dangerous concept in this particular business. While we may have travelled to the home regions of many of the cuisines we have on offer, what we serve up is our interpretation of the various dishes and cooking styles we have encountered.

How do you gauge which particular dishes will be to the taste of Hong Kong diners?

I don’t. And I don’t much care either. We try to stay well away fads and short-term trends. We want to produce a menu that stands the test of time. Truly great restaurants are passed from one generation to the next and we hope that, long after we’re gone, Black Sheep will still be around.

Are there any prospective Black Sheep projects that you’re free to talk about?

The plan, right now, is to open six new sites in Hong Kong in the coming months, as well as one in Europe. That’s all I can really say right now. My hope, though, is that another explosive year is on the cards for the Black Sheep family.

What do you think is the biggest misconception diners have with regard to how the restaurant industry works?

I think, with the rise of social media where you eat, as well as where you shop, have all becomes part of people’s individual brand. Sometimes, though, people fail to understand that a passion for consuming something is not the same as having a passion for a particular business sector. Essentially, loving to drink coffee is very different to being passionate about selling coffee.

How have the long hours affected your personal life? Was it difficult to meet someone who tolerated the demands your business had on your time?

Basically, you have no personal life. We’ve been successful because we’ve sacrificed everything for the business. If you want a personal life or want to be able to take time off whenever you feel like it, then this is not the industry for you and nor are you likely to create a truly great company.

Finally, what other advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

The first thing I’d say is that it’s a mad pursuit and you have to be a little bit crazy to choose it as a way of life. Secondly, if you feel you have to ask for advice, then you’re too normal and you probably shouldn’t be doing this. Beyond that, true excellence lies in doing everything – even the smallest of things – correctly and consistently. It isn’t being a ‘nine’ one-day and ‘three’ the next, it’s about being at least a‘7.5’ every day.

Thank You

Text: Bailey Atkinson

Fengs to Come: Feng Shui master Thierry Chow, mystic moderniser….

What was it like growing up with a Feng Shui master for a father? Do you feel you were kind of fated to follow in his footsteps?

Having a dad who was a Feng Shui master was my normal. While I was growing up, the furniture was constantly being moved around or rearranged and, to me, that never seemed strange or out of the ordinary. Once I started hanging out with other kids, though, – ones whose parents were doctors, lawyers or something – that’s when I realised that my family was a little bit different.Despite that, as a child, I had no interest in taking up the same vocation.

So, where did your passion lie?

I was very creative and very artistically inclined. I simply loved painting, drawing, fashion design… anything to do with the world of art in fact.And that was what dominated my academic career, right until I graduated in Fine Arts in Canada.

Given your initial disinterest, what ultimately drew you back to Feng Shui?

When I was about 24, I suddenly realised it held a fascination for me. That was when I returned to Hong Kong after graduating. I was also going through something of a rough time emotionally, while the culture shock of returning here after so many years away also sent me reeling.

I really needed something to get me off the bad place I found myself in. One day, I just turned to my dad and said:“Can I learn Feng Shui from you?” It was the result of something of a ‘Eureka’ moment for me and I knew immediately it was the right choice. I also instinctively felt I could integrate my own passion for art and fashion into Feng Shui. Since then, I can honestly say I have never looked back.

Was there any one thing your father taught you that proved particularly transformational?

Studying under my father truly opened my mind. Prior to that, I’d seen his calling as somewhat antiquated. Once I started learning it for myself, though, it changed the way I saw the whole world, giving me an entirely different perspective on life and making realise the endless possibilities that are out there. I knew then that I could never again box myself into some safe little world. It was a real paradigm shifting and I’ll always be grateful to him for that.

And how did that revelation change the way you saw Feng Shui’s role in the contemporary world?

As it’s such a traditional discipline, many people find it hard to reconcile with modern life. Through my training, though, I came to realise that, essentially, it’s all about the relationship between people and their environment. It teaches us how to arrange the space around ourselves in order that we can truly fulfil our potential, while still optimising our health and wellbeing.

What is the best way then to boost your Feng Shui?

A focal point of my Go Lucky Method is that if your space is draining you, there’s something wrong with it. Any environment that makes you feel sluggish – rather than energised – is in need of adjustment. This doesn’t always have to be drastic. It can be as simple as adjusting your lighting or adding a splash of colour. It is, however, often best to replace any needlessly flashy decorations with objects that have personal connection.Rather than opting for an expensive centrepiece, for instance, it might be better to put the focus on a dish your grandmother gave you. Basically, if you have something associated with a positive memory, that’s always the way to go.

For Hong Kong in general, how do you see things going in the Year of the Rat?

For 2020, it’s all about the water and metal elements. This means we can look forward to good things within spheres influenced by such elements.Metal governs thinks likely jewellery and, by extension, finance, while water would relates to drinks, hotels, travel…These, then, are the sectors that will thrive over the next 12 months….

What about the negative things?

Broadly speaking, the past year has been dominated by trauma and heightened emotions. As a consequence, people need to focus on their mental wellbeing. They need to ask themselves what they need to trigger the healing process and restore their positive state, of mind.

With regard to more finite matters. as it is a water-element year, people may want to take more care when it comes their engagement with bodies of water, such as ocean or pools.

You’ve just now launched your own proprietary take on Feng Shui – Go Lucky by Thierry Chow…

I always wanted to put a truly modern spin on traditional Feng Shui techniques and beliefs and this fulfil that’s vision. It is an approach that draws heavily on the Go Lucky method, a very simple series of steps that people can follow in order to get the maximum benefits from their immediate environment. As part of it, Feng Shui consultations and design analysis is also on offer. There are also three different Feng Shui decorations that can be purchased, with each one representing something different and bringing different influences to bear on any given space.

Aside from Feng Shui, you are also known – and admired – for your personal sense of style…

I love fashion and I always have. It’s also something I have always wanted to integrate into my Feng Shui offer. With this in mind, I started attending a lot of fashion events in my professional capacity and tough people how to dress in compliance with the principals of Feng Shui.

So Feng Shui has a bearing on fashion?

Absolutely. Feng Shui is all about changing your environment and clothes definitely help shape your demeanour. The five elements used in Feng Shui, as well a yin and yang, all come from The Book of I Ching, which guides things like birth-chart readings. While it’s not exactly Feng Shui per se, I use it as a means of determining which colours or patterns that can help you balance your will optimise the balance of your chi…

On top of all that, is there anything else on the horizon?

Well I recently worked on new collection with Samuel Kung, the renowned master of jade. I’d already fallen in love with jade and, when I met him, we were both keen to collaborate. Jade and Feng Shui are actually quite interlinked – it’ a material that absorbs a person’s energy and, as a result, changes colour over time. Looking to build on this, we launched the Samuel Kung x Thierry Chow Jade Collection. Comprising three jade rings and available from Lane Crawford, every item incorporates Feng Shui elements. Our next planned project, however, will be on a far grander scale…

Away from all your many commitments, how do you like to relax?

I am a fanatic for anything spiritual, so I really enjoy reading books on meditation and any that add to my understanding of the wider universe. I also love to meditate and to give free rein to my artistic side – and, of course, some retail therapy always goes down well too.

What is the key item on your bucket list?

Denmark. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. Although my husband is Canadian, that’s where his ancestors came from. I’ve seen so many gorgeous photographs of the country and I want to experience it all on a first-hand basis.

Finally, if you could meet any person, past or present…

I’m fascinated with reincarnation, so I would love to be able to meet one of my former selves. In terms of other people though, someone I would love to chat with would be Deepak Chopra, the famous author and renowned expert on alternative medicine. I’d love to be able to pick his brains about wellness techniques and the benefits of meditation.

Thank you.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Jack Law

Styling & Art Direction: San Wong
Venue: Hue

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