Designer who traded cement for fabrics builds her brand from Hong Kong

The move from architecture to fashion went smoothly for Tse Yuen-man, who founded her own brand two years ago because she wanted a change. The edgy digital prints and structured silhouettes that characterise her brand, Magnan & Tse, have been well received.

The French-born, Hong Kong-based designer hosted a cocktail party on Tuesday to preview her latest collection at the space she has just rented in Central.

'Coming from a background in architecture, I've never felt lost in fashion design,' Tse said. 'The scale might be different, but in both cases the design is about proportion. I feel much more inspired now, working with fabrics than cement.'

Although she used to live in Paris, Tse chose Hong Kong as the base for her fashion venture. 'As a young designer, I think Hong Kong can make a very good headquarters [for the business]. I'm fascinated by the energy of the city, and things can happen very fast here as well.'

Guests savoured canapes and vodka cocktails, while some dug into their pockets for a spot of shopping.