1. Da Vinci mode We rarely feature pens in The Goods – OK, OK, writing instruments, for the pedants out there. It’s not out of a lack of love, though. Montblanc is the big daddy of pens/writing instruments and we’re quite taken with the steampunk wonder that is the Great Characters Limited Edition Leonardo fountain pen (top; HK$26,100), of which only 3,000 have been made. If that’s too exclusive/expensive for you, then we recommend the ultra-masculine StarWalker Carbon fountain pen (bottom; HK$7,500). Montblanc is in Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2523 6637.
2. Case sturdies We’re still no nearer to inventing everything there is to invent, but you have to admit the wait for hoverboards and portable jet packs is getting rather trying – they were conceptualised in the 1980s, for goodness sake. Anyway, while we wait we still have Samsonite pushing the envelope with its travel cases. We like the single-tube handle Firelite case (left; in red, HK$4,070 to HK$4,850 depending on size) and the double-tube handle Cubelite (right; HK$4,300 to HK$5,500), both of which are made of woven polypropylene sheets, which has nothing to do with Breaking Bad and everything to do with being super-light and flexible but incredibly strong. Samsonite is in IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2295 3622.
3. Gaultier pleasures For a short while in the 90s, Jean Paul Gaultier was widely known in some European countries as the co-presenter of a weird and wonderful show called Eurotrash. Each week Gaultier and the Eurotrash team would seek out the very worst that continental European culture had to offer, as well as lots of footage of naked Germans, all presented in a surreal and hilarious way. Why is this relevant? Well, Gaultier’s madcap nature and mischief-making still informs his clothing and the world is all the richer for it. Just look at these eccentric metallic strap hi-top trainers (left; HK$4,980) and the nautical but nice leather and canvas hitops (right; HK$3,980). Jean Paul Gaultier is in Pacific Place, tel: 2918 0374.
