When basics are best

HIP CLOTHING LABEL Club Monaco has been a favourite with editors for years, and is regularly featured in fashion bibles such as Vogue and Elle. Celebrities including Kate Bosworth, Leonardo Di Caprio, Orlando Bloom, Nicole Kidman and Sarah Jessica Parker are often spotted wearing it, while fashionistas won't go a season without their classic white Vanessa shirts and merino wool jumpers.

'I used to shop [at Club Monaco] in Canada. I love it because it has all your wardrobe essentials, but each piece is designed with a funky twist,' says fashion executive Karen Lee. 'It's a bit more expensive than clothes from the so-called high street but it's worth it because the quality and design are there.'

Hongkongers not familiar with the label will be able to check out its offerings when its first boutique opens in Causeway Bay this Saturday. The launch not only marks its Asian debut, but also signals a growing demand for more affordable, high-quality fashion in Hong Kong. The label is one of many international clothing lines (such as Zara and Mango) looking to find success locally by filling a void for men and women looking for well-made and designed clothing that won't break the bank. This is not a new trend, with consumers travelling more frequently and learning to mix and match designer with high-street items, making the demand even bigger than before.

'Hong Kong is a sophisticated retail market where the customer appreciates design detail and quality. There is demand in the market for Club Monaco from those who know it - the brand has a very loyal following,' says general manager Chan Lei-shin. 'I've loved it from the moment I discovered it seven years ago in New York.'

Club Monaco was founded in 1985 in Toronto, Canada, to provide fashion essentials for the modern male and savvy female shopper. Interestingly, one of the women's lines' original designers was Alfred Sung, a Chinese-Canadian fashion designer during the 80s and 90s.

From three boutiques in Toronto, Club Monaco grew quickly, opening stores across the border in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and finally New York in 1989. The label evolved to include lifestyle concepts, with its own range of accessories such as bags and jewellery, homeware and cosmetics. In 1998, American designer Ralph Lauren acquired the label (which still remains as the only bought brand in his empire), which is fitting considering that both share a modern classic approach to fashion.