These eight fashion and accessory brands wear the ‘Designed in Hong Kong’ label high and proud. Get to know the heroes behind the scenes… Words by Kawai Wong

MOUSTACHE
Founded 09/09/2009

We are… Ellis Kreuger, tailor and designer, and Alex Daye, designer and writer.
We sell… Men’s ready-to-wear and bespoke between $150 and $12,000. And our super j.a.daye Guide to Hong Kong!
Our style is… Quirky, debonair, irreverent and well-made.
Our house welcomes… Everybody. Except meanies. They can stay away please.
Hong Kong is… Our main inspiration. Moustache is all about our personal reaction to this city that we now call home. We started this brand because we came from a cold climate and we needed to make clothes to be in this warm one. That really is the genesis of Moustache.
We wish… That more people would join in and start design houses. We want saying ‘made in Hong Kong’ to ring around the world with pride. Hello HKSAR government: what about some funding and subsidies for the nascent HK design scene?
31 Aberdeen St, Central. Also available at Lane Crawford and Konzepp.
 

DAYDREAM NATION
Founded 2007

We are… Siblings Kay and Jing Wong. Graduates of London’s Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins, respectively. We were voted as Vogue Talents last year.
We sell… Casual womenswear between $500 and $3,000.
Our style is… Poetic, surreal and storytelling.
Our motto is... ‘Life is either a daring adventure or nothing!’
Our jaws dropped when… We saw Karl Lagerfield coming out of the lift of Chanel Studio when we were asked to present our collection of accessories to inspire him.
We wish… The Hong Kong design scene can unite and share, and stop copying.
Style comes from… Believing in your taste.
We have to get this off our chest... Fuck the unbearable rent prices in Hong Kong that kill all young independent creative people from all fields!
21 Wing Fung, Wan Chai, 2817 6313; www.daydream-nation.com. Also available at Voulez Vous.

PERFECT TANGENT
Founded 2009

I am... Pak-man aka Pacman Lee, a man who’s passionate about philosophy and aesthetics.
I sell... Men’s ready-to-wear between $700 and $12,800. Womenswear is in the pipeline...
My style is... Minimal, intellectual, mathematical.
My design motto is... Design – without compromising elegance – for men who can appreciate functional details.
Perfect Tangent’s journey has consisted of... Problems, worries. Then solving the problems. And then happiness and achievement.
My happiest moment was... When Eric Jennings, the head buyer of Saks Fifth Avenue, came to me and said: “Good Job Pac. It is a beautiful collection!”
I love... Driving in Hong Kong at midnight.
Hong Kong’s design scene should... Think big, think wild, think far!
Unit A&B, 7/F, 111 Lee Nam Rd, Ap Lei Chau, 2882 8224; www.theperfecttangent.com

CCCHU
Founded 2009

We are... Husband and wife duo Michael Chu and Ching Ching. Having worked in the fashion industry for years and seeing the perpetual and repetitive modus operandi, we started Ccchu to explore other exciting fashion possibilities.
We sell... Womenswear and accessories between $800 and $8,000.
Our style is... Strong, mysterious, lazy and vigorous.
We design for... City roamers.
We would like to dress... Ordinary people.
Style is... One’s limitations.
We are currently inspired by... Charles & Ray Eames.
Visit www.ccchu.com Overseas stockist includes Darkroom London and Triple-Major Beijing.

JAYCOW
Founded 2006

I am... Jaycow, a former fashion stylist turned London College of Fashion trained milliner.
I sell... Mens’, womens’ and bespoke hats between $2,800 and $4,800.
My style is... Authentic, fun, romantic, and regal.
I would love to dress...The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. I started on millinery when... I read a course description at LCF. I thought hat making actually sounded quite romantic. I totally fell in love on the first day of class and never looked back...
I am proud of... Myself for being the pioneer milliner, introducing millinery to Hong Kong.
I wish... Local designers would be featured more often, I’m bored of seeing luxury brands being featured
in glossy magazines all the time.
Style is... Not what you see on a person on the outside. Style is what you can feel coming from the inside. Available at Hatwoman, Shop 209, Man Yee Arcade, 68 Des Voeux Road Central, 2167 8337; www.jaycow.com.

HOIMING
Founded 2007

We are… Husband and wife Baldwin Pui and Hoiming Fung, both Polytechnic University graduates.
We sell… Handmade leather handbags and accessories between $800 and $6,500.
Our style is… Mischievously elegant, witty and original.
We want to dress… People who are willing to appreciate alternative designs and, most importantly, have got a playful heart. Not those who think that the imported goods are always better, and deny local designs with no apparent reason.
Our best memories lie with… The Fatto-a-mano collaboration with Fendi and the birth of our ‘rose’ collection which was inspired by our wedding.
We feel proud… When we see this label when sewn onto any design: Made in Hong Kong or Designed in Hong Kong.
17 Wa In Fong East, Central, 2779 9003; www.hoiming.net. Also available at Harvey Nichols.

UTAH LEE
Founded 2009

I was… In fashion design when I was ‘young’, then became a fitness professional, then I designed jewellery for Episode, and then I became mother to Jacob and Sophia…
I sell… Fashion accessories under Utah Lee and baby apparel under Urbankidz between $38 and $7,000.
My style is… Urban chic, super cool, simple but sassy.
I’d like to dress… Rihanna, she’s gorgeous!
If I can only have one book… It’ll be Bart Simpson’s Guide to Life! Hilarious!
I can tell you a secret about Hong Kong... And it’s not about what you know, it’s all about who you know.
Style… Means less is more, keep it real. I wear black tank tops all the time but I would accessorise with… Utah Lee jewellery!
The design scene in Hong Kong should… Stop copying and create our own style.
33 Wellington St, Central, 3188 4621; www.houseofstyle.com.hk.

PLOTZ
Founded 2007

I am... Singchin Lo, engineer-turned-multi-award-winning fashion designer.
I sell... Novelty womenswear and accessories between $900 and $3,500.
My style is... Funky, sophisticated and fine detail.
I would dress... Anyone who appreciates our design and likes our clothes.
People love our... Original design that is hard to find elsewhere.
We are proud that... We are not chasing fast fashion trends. Fine details are still our main design concern.
A secret about the fashion industry is that... It is a never-ending journey. It is hard work season after season.
Every moment is memorable... But we never look back. We strive to move forward with our designs.
Room 511, JCCAC, 30 Pak Tin St, Shek Kip Mei, 2420 2100; www.xplotzx.com. Also available at Voulez Vous.