Meet four of Hong Kong's hottest young fashion designers

Kay Kwok

One of the local designers creating the most buzz at the moment is Kay Kwok, who despite launching his label just two years ago, has already shown at London Fashion Week, where he impressed New York Times fashion editor Suzy Menkes. Kwok is a firm believer in fashion education, which he says has improved drastically in Hong Kong in recent years. His fashion design studies at Hong Kong Polytechnic University gave him the confidence and the skill set to go to the prestigious London College of Fashion (alumni include Jimmy Choo and Patrick Cox) and then to work at Alexander McQueen. "Hong Kong gave me key skills, like pattern cutting and computer-aided design," says Kwok, adding that London further honed his creativity.

Kwok's aesthetic is avant-garde with his last autumn-winter collection featuring UFOs and extraterrestrials. His latest collection is influenced by the themes of futurism and technology, and combines computer-generated prints with asymmetrical cuts and a jaunty colour palette. Kwok says he values creativity over monetary gain, not an obvious choice for many up-and-coming designers. "I was first approached by Joyce after my degree show, but I turned them down as I wasn't ready," says Kwok.

It's an offer that most young Hong Kong designers would give an arm for, but Kwok turned down Joyce two more times before finally letting them buy and sell his collection in their stores. It is this willingness to be patient and learn the trade, he says, that has set him up for long-term success.