Hong Kong is dotted with H&M and Zara stores, but they're facing increasing competition from an influx of American basics retailers, proving that cheap and chic fashion is more popular than ever.
American label Gap's new store is opening this month - the exact date is yet to be announced - just around the corner from Abercrombie & Fitch, which recently took over Shanghai Tang's Pedder Building shop. American lifestyle brand Hollister opened the doors to its first flagship in Asia at Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, in August, to a crowd of supporters lining up outside the store.
Fans of South Korean-owned American brand Forever 21 will also be able to buy their outfits in Hong Kong soon - its first store is opening early next year at the six-storey Capitol Centre in Causeway Bay, replacing Giordano and Watsons.
Meanwhile, queues were already forming outside H&M's Central and Canton Road stores on Wednesday afternoon, in anticipation of yesterday's worldwide launch of Versace's collection for the Swedish clothing retailer.
The collection features Versace's iconic dresses such as a black silk crepe number with gold Grecian buttons and multicolour sequinned dresses covered in archival Versace prints in the women's line.
Menswear is all about sharp tailoring, with black tuxedo jackets with metallic tip trims on the pockets and shirts with metallic wing-tips on the collars.
