Belgian designers shun glam venues and go in search of ordinary folk

Accessory brand Kipling invited the Girls From Omsk to Hong Kong this week. For those unfamiliar with European street style, Girls From Omsk are a pair of Belgian designers. The bag brand recruited them to collaborate on a hip spring collection. Incidentally, one of them isn't even a girl. This is Valeria Siniouchkina and Philippe Koeune's first trip to Hong Kong, and at the promo event at Tsim Sha Tsui's LCX the two style-makers wouldn't let tiredness get in the way of their excitement.

'We are experiencing incredible jet lag,' Siniouchkina said. 'We come from an old European historical country, so it is fascinating to see such a modern city with all its high-rises.'

Appropriately, their series of totes and hand carry bags is called Monkeys Over the City, tying in with Kipling's brand logo of a simian. As Siniouchkina answered queries, Koeune amused himself by drawing buildings with a felt pen. 'My background is in architecture.'

Obviously, while here the two plan to check out the nightlife. Doing our 'friendly Hong Kong' part for the visitors, CitySeen offered some glam destinations enjoyed by other fashionistas and celebrities.

Interestingly, the pair's response was not as we expected. Shaking her head, Siniouchkina rebuffed: 'Oh, I'm not into the whole glamorous scene. I prefer to hang out with normal people.'

Well, the two designers should've got a real kick yesterday when they boarded the East Rail line to Shenzhen for a Kipling store opening.