It’s that time of the year again, and in Hong Kong that means fake snow and ridiculously lavish mall installations. While the high-street brands adorn their plastic mannequins with the anointed sequined dress of the season, we’ve done a little Ponytail round-up of Hong Kong’s homegrown stores that are anything but fake. It’s only natural that when you find people and projects so dedicated to their craft, they only need to whisper to be heard.
Delstore // G/F, No. 2 Sau Wa Fong, Wanchai
Hidden from plain sight is Derrick Leung’s Delstore. In a way, Derrick acts as a curator of goodness, focusing on simple but beautiful garments. He was quick to point out the overly loose borders of the word “quality” and instead seeks to provide a space in which customers can have the freedom to play with his thoughtfully curated selection of goods. A closer inspection of labels such as Arts & Science and Nigel Cabourn demonstrate an adherence to long-lasting and carefully engineered fabrics. Perhaps, as he ultimately suggests, quality is all about things getting better with time.
Derrick wears a suit from Arts & Science which he has owned for 8 years, and a shirt from Comme des Garçons which he has owned for 10 years.
The Armoury // 307 Pedder Building, Pedder Street, Central
Nestled in the heart of Central sits the brainchild of Mark Cho and Alan See; The Armoury. Founded 6 years ago, The Armoury takes a wonderfully holistic approach to menswear, holding the belief that comfort and ease is the highest form of elegance. This is starkly apparent through their tailoring service, in which the team seeks to understand each client’s personality and to create clothes that complement both character and form.
Christopher Berry demonstrates this, wearing the Teba jacket by Justo Gimeno inspired by the Count of Teba, a huntsman. His pocket square is a personal gift from a tailor in New York, adding a more personal touch.
Luddite // G/F, 15A-17A Haven Street, Causeway Bay
In a way, finding Luddite’s store is an adventure itself. The location is purposefully obscure, welcoming those who go out of their way to find it and warding off others. Once you find it, you’ll be welcomed with a rich treasure trove of vintage wear and workwear, spanning the first few decades of the 20th century. Many of the goods are sourced directly from Europe to Japan. The founders Rex and Boris began this project five years ago, basing the concept on their collective love for creative design and vintage garments, while starting their own line under the same name. Although Luddite continues to grow through word of mouth and social media, it still retains a touch of mystery in an age of hyper connectivity.
Kapok// 5 St Francis yard, Wanchai
Kapok’s approach to curation is not to focus on what’s fashionable, but rather what would provide long-lasting happiness in the form of “future classics”. It was a project dreamed up in 2006 to provide a collection of affordable, well-designed products to Hong Kong’s world of uniform and unattainable luxury. I was gifted a canvas Sanqvist backpack a few years ago, supplied by Kapok, and can safely say that after being dragged halfway across the world it’s withstood the test of time (and sea water).
Goldyard// No. 9, Mee Lun Street, Central
Goldyard’s concept was created in a flurry of inspiration from browsing American flea markets, resulting in a charming store that seeks to recreate the small wonders of treasure hunting. Their curation of goods is mostly imported from Japan, with a focus on simplicity and durability. Maximizing on beauty and function, Goldyard exclusively carries brands such as Rostersox and TCB. This eye for goodness has been rewarded by a constant stream of loyal customers, both local and international, and has kept Goldyard chugging along since its inception.
/ Shot and written by Anne Berry /
