Hong Kong designer’s pocket squares are true works of heritage art you can carry with you
The classic pocket square is given a fashionable twist at the hands of heritage art brand Novel Fineries
“Wearable art” is a term many fashion designers use to describe their work, but local fashion label Novel Fineries is taking the concept into new territory with its debut collection of pocket art, which is revolutionising the humble pocket square.
Novel Fineries has made headlines since it was founded by local designer June Lau in April last year. The brand was a winner at Lane Crawford’s Call Out 2016, which searches for the next generation of talented brands and designers. A nod at last year’s Design for Asia Awards and a trip to Paris with the Fashion Farm Foundation followed, as did endorsements from popular lifestyle websites such as Hypebeast.com.
Lau is not a fashion designer by trade. The Hong Kong native studied product design at Loughborough University in England, after turning down a spot at the famed Central Saint Martins. Following stints at brands, including Adidas – where she helped develop uniforms for the British Olympic team – she returned to Hong Kong in 2013. Here she founded her own consultancy and studio offering everything from product and graphic design to sourcing and manufacturing. Her pioneering projects have covered various fields from medicine to industrial design, and have included an award-winning product for eczema sufferers and a paddle board.
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While those pursuits have kept her busy, her mind often returned to fashion, which had been a passion since childhood.