Made in HK: Katherine Wong and Victoria Fong, designers and creators of yogawear line Omberry

Yogawear can come in many different hues and cut-outs but not many are as cute as Omberry’s 50s-inspired wear which looks just as good off the mat as it does on. The brand is the brainchild of childhood friends Katherine Wong and Victoria Fong, who, soon after they both started practising yoga, noticed a void in the market for stylish pieces that wouldn’t require them to change after a Bikram session. So they decided to design and make their own line of yogawear… and out popped Omberry, a yogawear collection stocked full of colourful, quirky pieces with a touch of vintage nostalgia. We sat down with Katherine and Victoria to find out their take on good yogawear.

The name Omberry is so catchy and cute. What’s the idea behind it?
Katherine: We came up with the name Omberry because we wanted to juxtapose a traditional aspect of yoga with something refreshing and it also applies to our designs, which we find refreshing. They can give women confidence, and they can easily wear them in and out of the studio.
Victoria: We like it a lot because it’s catchy and easy to pronounce because you know in Hong Kong, a lot of people can’t really pronounce some of the brand names.

And your take on refreshing was going vintage.
V: We both like vintage clothing for the details and silhouettes and we feel the 50s has special cut-outs and details that also accentuate the beauty of the female form.

Besides the unique cuts and styles of your pieces, what else sets your collection apart from the rest?
K: We take careful consideration of our fabrics. We use a nylon-lycra mix with four-way stretch for all our pieces and it’s very breathable and feels like cotton.

Being new local designers coming into the HK fashion scene, how has the reception been?
V: We have had really positive feedback and everyone is very excited for the next collection to come out. Especially local buyers. They’re receptive to us because we’re local designers.

Yogawear giants Lululemon also recently opened up a showroom in Hong Kong. What’s it like going up against them?
V: We’re definitely not trying to compete with them because they are the yoga giants. [Laughs] We like their stuff too but they’re very sporty and for on-the-mat use. Our stuff is more street-friendly and suitable for different occasions.

You’ve talked about yoga being a way of life, a lifestyle.
K: That’s why, when we came up with the name, we called it Omberry Living Aesthetics because we definitely view yoga as a way of life and eventually we want to expand into travel wear. We hope to promote a healthy and positive lifestyle and to empower women to feel confident and stylish when they wear our clothing. Through our brand, we also hope to promote yoga and its benefits to more people, especially in Hong Kong’s stressful environment.

1) Alexa wrap:

This is super comfortable and versatile so you can wear it in different ways. It’s perfect for a laid back Sunday stroll or travelling.

2) Carolina tank:

We like this design because it accentuates your shoulders and the thin waistband creates a slimming effect.

3) Kate Tank:

This is very easy to wear because you can just put on a blazer with a pencil skirt and you’re ready for the office.

Interview by Janice Jann