Elizabeth Lau's The Refinery brings her favourite brands to Hong Kong

Elizabeth Lau, creative director of clothing store The Refinery, talks about her years as a stylist in London and how her father influenced her career.

"The Refinery is a multi-brand shop, stocking labels you can't get elsewhere in this city. Having worked at the London and Paris fashion weeks, I have a lot of contacts with designer friends and brands that were not represented in Hong Kong. I always thought they had really great products, so I asked myself, 'Why not put everything into a shop here in Hong Kong?'"

"I learnt how to put together a photo shoot and the logistics of everything. At the end of the day, all you see is a pretty picture but there is so much organising that goes into it. Also I learnt the importance of people skills, because you meet so many different people - models, make-up artists, hairdressers."

"There is a lot of creativity in Hong Kong but it's not recognised. In London, there are a lot of creative firms that design graduates can work for. Others can be quite brave and go freelance. People in Hong Kong are more safe and people don't really give new designers a chance to showcase their work. Usually they get a job at a local firm where they are given very commercial work."

"My dad. He owns and runs a restaurant, which is completely different from my field. But growing up, I saw how he conducted his business. He was very organised and disciplined, and had a good rapport with his staff. I really admire his work ethic. He [inspired me to start] my own business."

"It's quite eclectic and changes depending on my mood. It's a mixture of girly and tomboy. I like stripes - lots of stripes! My style is kooky and quirky and that's really reflected in my store. Everything in The Refinery is what I would wear. I hope other people will like it as well."