Ad Category Above Title [D:1440×400 M:1440×400]

gafencu Shop

gafencu  app

Ad Category Sidebar [D:300×300 M:300×300]

Ad Video Category Above Title


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls loop src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2025/2504/2504_GMHK_Interview_Hingchao.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>“Welcome to my armoury,” says Hing Chao, as he gestures toward his office located in the heart of Wan Chai. The walls are adorned with century-old art pieces, a striking blend of literary art in the form of books and journals, formidable props reflecting his deep-seated passion for various forms of Chinese martial arts, and heavy rosewood chairs replacing the standard conference seating.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Each object tells a story, resonating with a shared history that Chao, Executive Chairman of Wah Kwong, the global shipping company founded by his grandfather, seems determined to protect. It is evident that in his world, tradition and culture are not simply relics of the past; they are living, breathing elements essential for navigating the future.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>For Chao, the maritime industry is more than a career; it is a family legacy. “My father, who inherited the company from my grandfather, set the foundation, so it runs in the family,” he says. “This inheritance is a responsibility I take seriously.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-85986" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3686-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /></figure></div>


<p>His childhood was steeped in the maritime ethos, yet his formative years also diverged from the family path. After completing his education at Durham University in the UK, he dedicated 15 years to the cultural and philanthropic sectors of society. It was in northeast China, working with ethnic minorities, that his passion for heritage and education sprouted. Reflecting on these early experiences, he says, “I learned about preservation before it became a buzzword. Back then, issues of sustainability were rarely discussed.”</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>When he assumed the chair of Wah Kwong Maritime Transport in 2019, he came armed with the unique perspective that cultural heritage and business operations can coexist harmoniously. The pivotal lessons from his early adulthood now underpin his strategies, allowing him to re-envision the maritime business landscape.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Scholar at the Helm</h3>



<p>Chao’s admiration for his grandfather, T.Y. Chao, a “gentleman scholar” with a profound appreciation for Chinese culture, shapes his own leadership style. “I want our company to not only excel in business but also represent and celebrate our cultural values,” he states emphatically.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Elders in the industry recognise his commitment to marrying business efficacy with a consequential grasp of cultural stewardship. “My aim isn’t merely to lead in shipping but to also lead in preserving cultural heritage,” he reiterates. His involvement with the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, and the Institute of Seatransport, which promotes professionalism in the Hong Kong shipping industry, reflects this ethos – nodding to the past while embracing innovation.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-85987" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3702-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /></figure></div>


<p>Chao is dedicated to educational initiatives aimed at shaping future maritime leaders. He nurtures talent through a corporate-school partnership programme that extends to the northern seaboard provinces of Liaoning and Shandong as well as Shanghai and the Greater Bay Area. This commitment to education embodies his philosophy that preserving cultural identity requires investing in the minds of tomorrow. As he puts it, “Real change requires layers of understanding, and that starts with our youth.”</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>His fervour for learning and professional excellence further extends to his work with the Maritime Services Training Board of the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council. “Education is not just about textbooks; it’s about understanding our heritage while preparing for the future,” he adds.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Philosopher in Business</h3>



<p>Incorporating philosophical thinking into his leadership, Chao asserts that “philosophy is about asking the right questions”. Modern business environments shift rapidly, akin to tides, and adapting requires reflective enquiry and agility. “Understanding the market as a system helps us read the signs and position ourselves wisely,” he elucidates.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>It is this adept adaptation rooted in cultural understanding that sets Wah Kwong – founded as a bulk cargo transporter in the 1950s – apart three generations on. Chao advocates for utilising technology as a conduit for preserving traditions. “Look around Hong Kong; it is steeped in rich traditions, yet we are equally at the forefront of modernisation,” he says. By pioneering new media techniques, he melds tech with the arts, viewing this as a valuable intersection for cultural expression.</p>



<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-85984 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3566-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-85985" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MT_3608-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure>
</div></div>



<p>He relishes the opportunity to reshape how cultural narratives are portrayed and preserved. As a founder and convenor of the Greater Bay Maritime Forum and an instigator of the Hong Kong Chamber of Shipping, launched last year, he lays a framework for collective industry collaboration that spans both culture and business.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>His efforts in working with universities to promote cultural documentation and expression further highlight this integration. He strongly believes that understanding culture within a broader ecosystem is vital, warning against isolating events and attempting to preserve them without connecting to the dynamic, living culture surrounding them.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Martial Arts Mentality</h3>



<p>Chao’s dedication to cultural preservation is most apparent when it comes to martial arts. Recognised as a significant figure in promoting traditional martial arts in Hong Kong, he has spent the last decade creating pathways between martial arts styles and modern artistic expressions. “At first, many viewed martial arts through a lens of violence,” he recalls. “I sought to change that narrative and instead highlight its cultural significance.”</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>His initiatives, including the Hong Kong Culture Festival, have infused martial arts with contemporary relevance, bridging gaps between tradition and modern performance. “I dare say no one has done more to preserve martial arts in this city than I have,” he asserts with a discernible note of pride in his voice.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-85988" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/L_MT_3483_edit.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /></figure></div>


<p>As described by his colleagues and assistant at his wide five-storey office, Chao is a quiet and serious person. And while that may be true – he barely smiles at the beginning of our encounter – he soon reveals a multi-faceted character. He is keenly aware how perceptions through expression and attire can alter narratives. “Yes, I wear suits for important meetings and whatnot, but beneath, I’m just a guy who prefers leather jackets and jeans. This is basically my everyday go-to look,” he chuckles, imbuing a sense of relatability.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>His office is lined with family photographs, showcasing a softer side that illuminates his commitment to loved ones. “Seeing my kids happy brings me true fulfilment,” he shares. “My life is a woven tapestry – personal and professional threads intertwined.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Steering Forward</h3>



<p>Chao’s blueprint for success is a long-range vision. He believes achievements today will equate to stepping stones for a more expansive purpose. “We must ensure that the values we instil lead to something sustainable for future generations,” he emphasises. This viewpoint keeps him grounded as he navigates the complexities of maritime operations infused with cultural resonance.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>With a forthright perspective on his path, both past and forward, Chao shares the notion that success, particularly in cultural preservation, requires collective stewardship. “If I were to stop, what would happen to all I’ve initiated? Sustainability should be our priority – not individual legacy.”</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>In a moment of levity interwoven amid serious discussions about legacy, he admits with an infectious laugh that he is not a fan of Game of Thrones, despite displaying an impressive array of war tools reminiscent of characters from popular fantasy shows. “It’s just unrealistic,” he declares, revealing a light-hearted sensitivity that humanises him amid a world often constrained by expectations of seriousness.</p>



<div style="height:17px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Hing Chao stands as a stalwart guardian of the past, a champion of the present, and a visionary architect of an inclusive cultural future. As the interview concludes, we are reminded that beneath his stoic exterior lies an individual driven by profound values that fuse work with cultural preservation. His efforts ensure that while he steers the maritime industry into new waters, he simultaneously upholds the anchors of tradition and heritage that define who we are.</p>



<div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p><em>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa|Photographer: Jack Law|Videographer: Jack Fontanilla&nbsp; &nbsp;</em></p>


Captain Culture: Hing Chao steers the Wah Kwong family ships through heritage values into a modern world


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls loop src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2024/2407/2407_GMHK_Interview_Ethanung.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Ethan Ung, Managing Director of BrandCharger, is a dynamic and visionary leader who has helped propel his family business to new heights on the global stage. Born and raised in the Netherlands, his journey has been one of cultural duality, entrepreneurial spirit and relentless drive. Dressed in a smart, crisp blue suit and looking every inch like the fashion model he was once, the six-foot millennial entrepreneur reflects on the influences that shaped his career path, and the guiding principles that have led BrandCharger to become a renowned global player in high-end corporate gifting.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“I grew up in Maassluis, a city with 36,000 inhabitants close to the sea and Rotterdam,” he shares. “It was a stress-free time where kids can be kids, and we were in an East-meets-West environment. I spent most of my time in Catholic schools, but at home and with family, we would speak Cantonese and learn about Cantonese culture.&#8221;</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Ung’s family background, with a mix of Western and Eastern cultures, instilled in him a deep appreciation for diversity and a global mindset – traits that would prove invaluable in his entrepreneurial journey. “Initially I thought I would be working for a corporation, but it grew on me seeing most of my family being entrepreneurs,” he explains.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>His admiration of successful business leaders and his own import and distribution experiences further ignited his entrepreneurial spark. “As a Business Administration student, I read about Li Ka-shing, and how he started his career in the manufacturing of plastic flowers and built that into an international business conglomerate,” he says. “And when I was young, my mom would tell me and show newspaper articles about my uncle who built a big business by importing yachts and Lamborghinis into Hong Kong early on.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Brotherly Bond</h3>



<p>Embracing their entrepreneurial legacy, Ethan and his elder brother James ventured into the global branded merchandise industry, founding BrandCharger in the Netherlands in 2011. Taking the helm as Chief Commercial Officer and CEO respectively, they decided almost immediately to relocate the company headquarters to Hong Kong, the gateway to international trade. The duo’s remarkable success can be attributed to their unwavering commitment to building long-term relationships – often with other multi-generation family businesses – fostering a talented and motivated team, and crafting innovative, sustainable and unique products.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82387" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3324-copy_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure></div>


<p>“It makes your life less hard on a personal and business level,” says Ung about the importance of family in his life. “Wherever we travel and have meetings at the family businesses we collaborate with, we are treated with a warm and welcoming feeling. On a personal level, my parents love me dearly, and they have always supported and encouraged me to venture and move back to Hong Kong. My brother is my business partner, mentor, sparring partner but also my best friend.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Charge of the Light-up Brigade</h3>



<p>The pivotal moment in the Ungs’ journey to the top was recognising an opportunity to create a unique product – a light-up logo USB car charger. “At that time my brother was working in his ad agency on merchandise for Valvoline [a car lubricant brand] and they were looking for 300,000 items. We came up with the idea of a light-up logo USB car charger and prepared 10 moulds to produce on time at our first factory in Jiangmen [in Guangdong].</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“The campaign was a big success, and after it was over we still had the moulds, so we asked our client for permission to sell the charger to other customers. We quickly won the Promotional Product of the Year award at the 2011 Dutch PromZ exhibition and the rest is history.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>BrandCharger has remained committed to creating products that are not only innovative but also sustainable. “Today, 80% of our products are made in a sustainable way,” he says. “That means, for instance, that all our bags are from recycled rPET yarns [polyester made from plastic bottles] whereby our entire value chain is audited. The same goes for our drinkware – we have recently invested in a production line with bulk purchasing of recycled 304 stainless steel. We like to grow and expand but in a sustainable way.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82385" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3190-copy_edit_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure></div>


<p>While the Covid-19 pandemic presented significant challenges, the Ungs weathered the storm thanks to their strong foundations. “I always tell my brother that when Covid happened, we were in a position of triple-digit growth annually from 2017-2019, and hence we had a buffer to deal with bad times. I think it would have been very different if we were just a startup at that time. The biggest lesson of Covid is that the world is resilient, and we always find ways to come back.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dutch Drive</h3>



<p>Ung’s global mindset and cultural fluency have been instrumental in BrandCharger’s rise, and he believes these attributes are crucial for entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach. “The Netherlands has a rich history and was once a global power in trade through the Dutch East India Company,” he explains. “You could say trade is in the blood of Dutch people; they grow up with the mindset of ‘exploring’.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“Growing up in the Netherlands, it was a melting pot of different cultures. I got exposed to a lot of different cultures. So it definitely gives you an open mind and helps in doing business.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Toys for Boys</h3>



<p>Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ung has a diverse range of interests and hobbies that keep him grounded and inspired. “I find motorbikes are a nice way to escape,” he notes. “Though I do not recommend this dangerous hobby, you need to pay so much attention to the speed, road and traffic when riding a motorbike that it clears your mind and you can recharge for your next opportunity at work.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82386" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_3319-copy_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure></div>


<p>Having grown up by the water (The North Sea), he also favours motor boats: “We have a small motor boat to enjoy swimming and all the beautiful archipelagos, islands and beaches in Hong Kong.” And like many of the new-gen high achievers, he collects watches: “Watches were not always a hobby, but today they are. I love mechanical items and several watches represent milestones in my business career or life.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friends and Benefits</h3>



<p>As BrandCharger continues to evolve and expand its global footprint, Ung remains focused on strengthening relationships with partners worldwide. “We have been doing business with a large number of our clients for 10 years and, in essence, have become close friends. We want to expand on that feeling of ‘let&#8217;s do this together and grow together’.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple yet profound: “Just start something, anything; you may fail but learn significant lessons during the process. Find a good mentor to guide you and hire people who are better than you and complement your skills.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>With his unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability and global collaboration, Ethan Ung has helped to position BrandCharger as a trailblazer in the branded merchandise industry. As the brothers steer their company to new heights, their story serves as an inspiration for budding entrepreneurs around the world.</p>



<div style="height:75px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Interview, Text and Art Direction by: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Videographer: Jack Fontanilla &nbsp;</p>


Turbo Charged: Dynamism is a family trait for young entrepreneur Ethan Ung, builder of an innovative branded-merchandise empire


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2024/2407/2407_GMHK_Interview_Noreensiu.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Noreen Siu Richards steps out of her airy apartment in Tai Tam Reservoir Road, a short drive from steep, sun-scorched trails filled with hikers, to offer thirst-quenchers to our production team. A 2 pm interview and shoot in the blazing Hong Kong heat is a difficult place to be glamorous, but she accepts the challenge. Back indoors, her powder is set, her cheekbones are lifted and her eyeliner is definitely not creasing as she power walks down the hall.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“Let me show you this red Valentino. Beautiful, isn’t it? This isn’t from the latest collection, but I’d still wear it,” she shares excitedly as she frolics among the rack of designer clothes. Her inexhaustible effervescence in full flow, she then turns to a very different line-up of personal treasures: “And right here is my library – a collection of my thesis and inspirational books. The bible if you may.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="676" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-1024x676.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82219" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-1024x676.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-424x280.jpg 424w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-768x507.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-1536x1015.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-2048x1353.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-200x132.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/People1_July2024_OP_FA-800x528.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>This is a relatively new terrain for her. In a remarkable transformation, Siu Richards has traded in her former life of fashion and frivolity for a calling to help the sick and impoverished through her Hong Kong-based ministry, New Wine Ministries. The second daughter of the late philanthropist tycoon Siu Ming and Julie Siu, who still heads the Women’s Welfare Club (Western District), was once a fixture on the social circuit, spending her evenings at glitzy balls and her afternoons lunching with the city’s elite. But a profound spiritual awakening while she and her architect husband, David Richards, were living in Monaco in the 1990s set her on a disparate path.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>After settling in London, she discovered Kensington Temple London City Church in 2002, which later in 2008 inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in Christian Ministry at the Ecclesia Theological Seminary in Tuen Mun. Though she describes it as the “hardest thing she has ever done”, the five-year degree course was completed in an impressive three years, igniting her passion to establish New Wine Ministries Hong Kong in 2011. ‘Reverend Noreen’, as she is now known, works with cancer patients and asylum seekers and refugees, promoting inner healing and community fellowship.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“It’s a complete 180 from my former life,” she admits. “This is the last profession I would expect myself to be in, but I’ve never been more fulfilled. Applying my ‘passion for compassion’ to helping those in physical and mental anguish is my true calling.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">From Fashion to Passion</h3>



<p>Siu Richards is a woman of many talents and passions. After earning her MBA in Business Finance and Accounting from the University of British Columbia, she embarked on a career in banking. However, her teenage dream was to become a high-fashion boutique owner, which she went on to fulfil.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“As a teenager, I took a special interest in fashion, and in my career-goal essay at pre-university level, I wrote that I would like to become a high-fashion boutique owner in womenswear and travel to high-fashion centres in Italy and France,” she says with a smile.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="787" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-1024x787.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82215" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-1024x787.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-364x280.jpg 364w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-768x590.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-1536x1180.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-2048x1573.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-200x154.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1516-copy_edit_p-800x615.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>True to her word, she would open two maternity-fashion boutiques in Hong Kong called Lady Madonna, then the Primadonna women’s high-fashion boutiques, as well as a franchised boutique, Alma, in the mid-1980s. Years later, witnessing the physical and emotional pain of her brother, who died of cancer, gave her pause to rethink her career and life choices. “My brother’s battle with cancer in itself was enough to motivate me to help others,” she stresses.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Forgiveness and Faith</h3>



<p>Her name has now become synonymous with compassion, resilience and an unwavering commitment to helping those in need. She is a firm believer in the power of inner healing – the healing of damaged emotions or memories through unlocking the hurt in the innermost part of our lives and forgiving ourselves and those who have wounded us. She recounts the story of one man with diabetes who went from being in constant pain, requiring four insulin injections per day and losing his sight, to experiencing significantly less pain and needing far less medication after undergoing inner-healing sessions.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>The process of forgiveness has been instrumental in her own life and the lives of those she serves. “The strategy is to try to repeat the forgiveness process as many times as needed in order to get rid of our negative emotions,” she explains. “The perpetrators could be those close to us, so the situation will recur, and we need to be able to aggregate our pain and escalate our emotions once again.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82222" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_2030-copy_edit_pp-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure></div>


<p>She continues: “The Bible says, ‘Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry’. We are encouraged to forgive as many times and as soon as possible, even daily.” During challenging times, she encourages individuals to stay focused on positive emotions, seek God’s guidance and stay humble by reading God’s word and remaining obedient.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Forgiveness can be a truly transformative power. One woman with cancer whom she helped had long struggled with extreme anger and bitterness towards her husband and mother-in-law. “She would hold on to her grudges, and her emotions were inflamed with anger, hatred and bitterness. She didn’t want any way out, thinking she was avenging the person who had hurt her,” she recalls.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>After several sessions, Reverend Noreen was able to guide the woman through the forgiveness process. “She came back the next week looking like a different person. Her face was clearer, and she had a bit of a glow. She had better relationships with her family, friends and colleauges. After a few more sessions, her life was transforming greatly. I worked with her until she was healed and restored. She was converted and came back often for fellowship gatherings. What a miracle in her life!”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Guidance and Freewill</h3>



<p>Yet, Siu Richards is aware that her preachings and the Bible are not the sole answers to every problem, especially when addressing mental health issues. “Of course, one has to know that whatever comes from the Bible and from my mouth are mere guidance to a happy life. We all still have our free will. We should always make use of it to do what is right, and we still have to consult with medical experts.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>She remains optimistic about the future, with plans to reach out to more people through social media and expand the scope of her ministry’s work. Her dedication to her religious beliefs is matched only by her commitment to her family. As a wife and mother, she has learned to balance her responsibilities with grace and efficiency. “I value every God-given moment of time to be productive, even time to relax and rest,” she says. “I thank the Lord for giving me energy and strength.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82223 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1945-copy_pp-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-82224" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MG_1926-copy_pp-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure>
</div></div>



<p>Ending with an utterance of “God Bless!” as we wrap up, her close and intense way of speaking takes our conversation beyond mere Q&amp;A to the level of intimacy required for sharing relationship stories. Her ability to make a friend of you in a few hours – four hours in the case of our shoot – is legendary. It’s hard not to surrender to her gravitational pull, and her story is a shining example of how one person can make a profound difference in the world.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Ultimately, Reverend Noreen Siu Richards has wholeheartedly embraced her new role as a shepherd for the sick and downtrodden – and it’s as clear as this brilliant summer’s day that she wouldn’t have it any other way.</p>


Healer at Heart: The remarkable transformation of Reverend Noreen Siu Richards from party-goer to passionate preacher


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2024/2404/2404_GMHK_Interview_Rasheedshroff.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Rasheed Shroff’s co-working space is located in a three-decade-old industrial building in Quarry Bay. But inside, it’s a blueprint of what a modern office should look like, with a feel of zen and a killer harbour view. As we ring the bell, Shroff joyfully hops into the office’s cavernous foyer. There’s something undeniably adolescent about his demeanour – like that of a teenager left alone in a grown-up’s house. Throwing open the door, he says hello, and leads us past a marble reception counter and a hard-to-miss framed letter B – the company logo, Banyan Workspace.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“I guess this is what a positive working environment does? Less stress means looking young?” he laughs. “At the peak of the pandemic years, there was a time when I was the only person in this space. That was hard and mentally exhausting. Thank god that’s over!”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>As a visionary entrepreneur with a deep understanding of the evolving landscape of work and business, Shroff recognises the limitations of traditional office spaces. Thus, he set out to create a new paradigm that fosters collaboration, creativity and productivity. With a clear vision and an entrepreneurial spirit, he and his wife, Amy, founded Banyan Workspace in 2019 to offer a fresh, socially conscious perspective on shared workspaces.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-81051" width="683" height="1024" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1450-copy_p-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Knit V-neck gilet in two-toned dove grey geometric jacquard by Emporio Armani, Melange wool blazer and wool pants by SANDRO and watch by Zodiac Watches</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Amy Shroff stays close during our photoshoot in the space’s sumptuous library and lounge – ideal for companies to hire for their own sessions – and ably fulfils her role as Head of Creative by suggesting how her husband should pose and smile. “The whole idea of Banyan Workspace is to come to work with a smile,” he says with gusto. “It’s always a first-name basis here with an enthusiastic good morning and/or hello. We strive to provide a comfortable working environment that feels like it’s a home.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Apple and the tree</h3>



<p>Rasheed Shroff’s family has long been recognised in the city. His grandfather fled from Shanghai with his family during the Second World War, beginning a profound bond with Hong Kong spanning four generations. His path of success left an indelible mark on the commercial landscape and ultimately shaped the destiny of the family. For Rasheed personally, this meant a law degree at the University of Sussex in the UK, two decades in the brand and marketing corporate world, then co-founding his own brand- distribution company, Dragonfly Asia-Pacific, the year before Banyan Workspace was born.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-81052" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1600-copy_edit_p-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Knitwear top by ZEGNA and Alpha wool-twill suit jacket and trousers by SANDRO</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“We call it Banyan Workspace for a couple of reasons,” he says. “Banyan trees were historical places where merchants traded goods while traversing the old Silk Road. Both my grandfather and father ran a trading company which started with sourcing silks in China and shipping them to India, so we thought that was very analogous to us.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sustainable force</h3>



<p>As a true-blooded Hong Konger with deep roots in and love of his birthplace, Shroff not only showcases the city’s spirit through the design of the co-working space but also embraces a noble cause – giving back to the community. They have officially partnered with five local non-profit organisations to date.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Companies have been drawn to the allure of the space for their offsite meetings and events, captivated by a sustainable luxury office that seems to defy convention. This served as the catalyst for the Green Office Project in 2022, a Banyan Workspace undertaking that encourages companies to embrace sustainability.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“Its purpose evolved beyond a mere educational initiative,” he explains. “This project is for companies to understand the consequences of the decisions they make every day, and to show decision-makers that viewing each decision through a sustainability lens is good for their company, their customers, their business and our planet. We would love to take our impact beyond the four walls of our workspace and inspire and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Words to work by</h3>



<p>Shroff also possesses a rare sense of discipline and drive for perfection, qualities that were born perhaps of his awareness that he has a name to live up to. In the corner of the office pantry, three placards hang on a rattan board: ‘Inspire Impact, Engage Minds, Transform Action.’</p>



<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-81049 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1425-copy_p-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-81050" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1427-copy_p-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></figure>
</div></div>



<p>He adds: “It’s absolutely critical to be in an environment that you are comfortable in and that is conducive to being as productive as you can be. This is not about the set-up, though obviously it’s important that the technology works, whether that be the wifi, the printer or the lights.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">50 and beyond</h3>



<p>He is entering his sixth decade and a new phase of life, but behind a youthful visage that only shows wear when a smile draws minuscule wrinkles around his brow, his humility and his honesty are what shine the most.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“Almost every interaction is an opportunity to learn and develop. The key is staying humble, being open to learning, growing, developing and being self-aware,” he says. “Setting up two distinct businesses across three countries is probably my most significant achievement career-wise. But honestly, I don’t feel we have accomplished what we set out to do yet. I am cautiously optimistic about what 2024 will bring.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Settled into an equilibrium, Shroff appears to have a genuine enjoyment of his place in the ecosystem. His most overwhelming and rewarding job seems to be as a family man – a husband and a father of two. “Parenthood is a gift, but it is also something that nothing can prepare you for,” he shares. “It makes you want to be better and show your kids the very best that you can be, while striving to give them every opportunity to become the best version of themselves.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Valuable support</h3>



<p>He adds with a knowing wink: “But the young need to make their own mistakes and learn from them – finding that balance is not always very easy. My parents always encouraged us to work hard and play hard. I worked hard yes, but I played harder! “My family as well as my team are an incredible support system and they allow me to do everything that I love to do. Nothing that I do today would be possible without them,” he confesses.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-81048" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-187x280.jpg 187w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_1355-copy_edit-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></figure></div>


<p>It was the desire to give every child the support system they deserve that saw Shroff accept an invitation to sit on the global board of OneSky, an NGO providing early childhood care and safety environments for vulnerable children.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Space, the future frontier</h3>



<p>There is an earnest, sometimes quivering sense of excitement in his voice when he discusses what lies ahead. His mindset retains an ethos that anything is possible. Sustainability has been a core value of the co-working movement since its inception, and while this commitment is not always easy, it is a crucial step towards creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>“I firmly believe that resiliency is one of the most important qualities an entrepreneur needs to have,” he stresses. “The last few years have certainly taught me that being resilient, staying in the game and putting one foot in front of the other is the only way to progress.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Ultimately, the right blend of autonomy, resources and community lies at the heart of an empowered and happy team — one that wants to come to work, wherever that happens to be.</p>



<div style="height:75px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p><em>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Venue: Banyan Workspace Brands: Emporio Armani, ZEGNA and SANDRO Cover: Chore jacket by ZEGNA, Neil cotton-twill suit pants by IRO and shoes by ZEGNA</em></p>


Ace of Space: Led by owner Rasheed Shroff, social consciousness and sustainability flourish at Banyan Workspace


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls loop src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content.bak/uploads/2024/2403/2403_GMHK_Interview_Leniaperez.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Lenia Pérez is one of the best-dressed women in the city, in part because she’s so willing to try everything. “I’ve prepared a total of 19 outfits for us to play around with, but I’m not sure if some of them still fit me,” laughs the Latin American fashion entrepreneur, rubbing her four-month baby bump with just a slight touch of embarrassment.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>It’s an unconventional pregnancy announcement – and a surprising moment of awkwardness for someone who photographs so well and telegraphs such confidence. Whether she’s going to the gym or the hottest parties, her style is obsessively chronicled.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Embarrassment, though, is different from regret. “I’m never afraid to try anything,” affirms Pérez, who is thrilled to be expecting her second child with husband Ziad Korban. “I think that just goes to show that there’s a moving evolution in my style. It just keeps growing” – like her baby bump – “which is kind of how I want to be in all areas of life.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80626" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9734_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Black Flora Deep V Maxi Dress by Daniella Batlle Earrings by Vipop</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>It takes a certain sort of boldness and a certain level of shimmering magnitude to establish your own time zone, especially while being pregnant. Yet the co-founder and CEO of Vipop, a Hong Kong-based sustainable fashion brand, has done just that. It’s exactly 8:45 am on a typical Hong Kong gloomy Monday, yet Pérez is all set for a day of photoshoot and interview. Her ease and her vibrant full smile suggest this is all very normal and time really is just a construct.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>From the get-go, she also expresses her opinion on maternity wear: &#8220;I&#8217;m hoping that we are able to redefine what’s considered ‘decent’ for pregnant women. I am proud of my body for the amazing things it’s doing right now. Minus the morning sickness, I think I am at my happiest. Heels during pregnancy? Go for it. Who made such rules anyways?”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sustainable values</h3>



<p>As a self-confessed collector, Pérez travels to fashion shows across South and Central America in search of resort-wear designers to represent, pinpointing those whom she believes will appeal to Asian customers. What started as an internet business with co-founder and fellow Venezuelan Fabiana González, now occupies a cosy white shop called Artezano by Vipop and is reaching customers in the US and Europe.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Her parents are artisans, so she has always liked fashion and handicrafts. Additionally, clothing created by Latin American designers, who historically use sustainable weaving and dyeing methods, felt appropriate for a market where ethical consciousness is growing in importance.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80636" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9302_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Red Percy Dress by Palma Canaria</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“Vipop brings together a community of international designers making bags, jewellery and clothing in unique designs like the ones I’m wearing,” she says. “Our designers take care of the ethical or eco-friendly values behind the pieces and we also take care of the value of each piece. So it’s this community we’re building in the new fashion industry. We’re offering new ways to be sustainable. It’s not just ‘sustainable’; it can be very fun too.”</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>Vipop builds partnerships based on sustainability practice. Designers and collaborators are chosen by the effort they put into one or more of the following clean fashion criteria: handmade, locally produced, carbon neutral, use of vegan or organic materials, low waste, longevity, recycled materials and fair wage.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Damage limitation</h3>



<p>“It’s very important to put attention to how the pieces we buy are actually made, who is making them and how it affects our environment, the community around us and the planet, because we can see so much damage in the world from the fashion industry. This is something very special for me and all the team, and this is why we selected this subject to build a fashion brand and e-commerce platform.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80637" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9589_p-800x1000.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Black Cher dress cut pleated skirt with top by Nabel Martins</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>This combination of focused strategy with faith in humanity and the occasional flight of fancy seems a winning formula, especially when matched by an unstinting gusto for whatever challenges her fashion career or an impending new addition to the family will throw at her.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Calming vibes</h3>



<p>Despite her hypermodern appearance, not to mention the permanent arts on her skin, her style is very traditional. As seen on her Instagram, whether it’s a friend’s wedding or a trip abroad, she creates distinct &#8216;vibes&#8217; (to use her favourite phrase) for each occasion. Indeed, her process is true fashion-icon behaviour.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80623" width="768" height="432" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-498x280.jpg 498w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-200x112.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9455_p_edit2b-800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure></div>


<p>“We&#8217;re still right on time. I cannot emphasise more the importance of working with the right people. It will really get the job done and produce output that you want to have,” she reflects as she changes for look no.9.</p>



<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80622 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9433_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p>Pérez seems unfazed by the fame in the fashion world she is currently experiencing. She is seemingly without ego: calm and reflective with a slightly starry professional glow that makes her the ability to inhabit someone else’s mind look easy. During and in between takes, she is compellingly unselfconscious.</p>
</div></div>



<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p>“But that’s the work of it,” she shares. “In reality, you have to be aware of what you’re feeling, what the team in the room is feeling. Once the camera clicks, you have this third level of awareness – your mark, the light and which way you should be facing. And it’s like you are constantly having to juggle those three things the whole time. She pauses and adds knowingly: &#8220;Pretty much like pregnancy huh?”</p>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="819" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80624 size-full" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9507_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dressed to express</h3>



<p>Fashion for her is about the moments of pure enjoyment, of just letting go to the point that she can be surprised. It represents the most acute version of fun. “Which is why I love it so much. It’s my playground. I love it,” she admits giddily.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80635" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9786_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Emiliana pants and bared back top in paillette by Nabel Martins</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“Clothes allow us to show off our unique personalities. Many of us care about how we seem in public, which is cool and just right. But some of us experience pressure to follow the newest trends in fashion,” she reminds, throwing in a note of caution.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mother load</h3>



<p>One trend she is happy to embrace is her pregnancy. These days, the word ‘Mother’, without the preceding article, is present everywhere, as not just a regular word but a colloquial term and part of this generation&#8217;s slang; fans, brands and occasionally even mums themselves use it. It is also affectionately applied to prominent women who have a devoted following. And Pérez is surely mothering the fashion game.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-819x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-80625" width="614" height="768" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-224x280.jpg 224w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-768x960.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-200x250.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/H_MG_9536_p-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Blue one sleeve cut out dress by Baobab Accessories by Vipop</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“My body is going through so many changes again, but I ’ve grown to respect it so much that I look past the physical. I fully embrace it for serving a much deeper purpose, something far bigger than myself and anything I ever gave it credit for. I’m so grateful for, and amazed by, what my body is capable of,” she states, flashing a smile.</p>



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p>At the end of our shoot, she swaps her stilettos for platformed boots, saying with a wink: “It’s time to be more comfortable.” Whatever tomorrow brings, Lenia Pérez will have the right attitude – and look – to take it on.</p>



<div style="height:75px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<p><em>Interview, Text &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Venue: Qura Bar &#8211; Regent Hong Kong Brands: Daniella Batlle, Baobab, Nabel Martins and Vipop</em></p>


Fashion Conscience: Vipop founder Lenia Pérez radiates sustainability vibes while joyfully revealing her second pregnancy


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/2305/2305_GMHK_Interview_Yvechan.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Yve Chan is a man with a deep-rooted value system honed by growing up in a town in China filled with craftsmen who made their living from jade. These artisans painstakingly cut jade in their small workshops and then every morning at 3 am went to the local market set up by his father to sell their wares. Years later, when Chan established a jewellery business in Hong Kong, he named it Dawn Jewellery in tribute to his father and this heritage.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK0077_p-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74125"/></figure></div>


<p>What struck him was how these craftsmen would communicate jade through the telling of traditional stories, and he knew from a young age he wanted to be involved in this industry. His early career in Hong Kong saw him working for a major US advertising agency, Leo Burnett, but his interest in craftsmanship and the desire to “realise the creativity” was too strong. He soon quit advertising and went to the UK to achieve the necessary qualifications.</p>



<p></p>



<p>Chan shone during a jewellery and silversmithing course at Birmingham City University. He received the Assay Office London Technology Award from The Goldsmiths’ Company and was a Silver Award winner at International Jewellery London’s Special Award for Fine Jewellery. He further studied at the Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles to achieve his certificate as a gemologist.</p>



<p></p>



<p>A thoughtful man in his late 30s with a passion for his craft, Chan says these years have defined the rest of his life. Sitting in his Causeway Bay workshop and retail gallery, he flashes back to his final year in the UK when it dawned on him that he was actually quite good at his chosen craft. “At that moment I realised this is maybe my lifelong career,” he says. In another fond memory, he also notes that his time as a coxswain in a university rowing team forged his team spirit.</p>



<p></p>



<p>Following his return to Hong Kong, he gained valuable experience working in product development for a large retailer before setting up Dawn Jewellery in 2014. He originally just sold jadeite jewellery but soon gained international partners for his Tsim Sha Tsui flagship store following exhibitions at international shows. Dawn specialises in bridal jewellery, selling an array of wedding rings and exquisite pearl and diamond creations, and holds workshops in the craft.</p>



<p></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK0034_p-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74122"/></figure></div>


<p><strong>Telling international stories</strong><br>Chan reveals that one of the first major partners for his platform was a famous wedding ring maker from Germany with a history spanning 150 years This had been one of his “idol” companies from his time as a student in the UK.</p>



<p></p>



<p>“I think we both realised that we share the same thoughts towards craftsmanship, towards business models, towards what is going on in the market,” he says. “We were at a good point to introduce them to Hong Kong.”</p>



<p></p>



<p>“They are very picky in choosing the retailer, because there can be a lot of very big retailers, but they are not necessarily able to talk through the philosophy of the brand. I think we are good storytellers. So, one by one I am inviting these artists to tell their stories,” says Chan, who now has more than 20 partners from across the world.</p>



<p></p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK9915_p-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-74126"/></figure></div>


<p><strong>True value of craftsmanship</strong><br>From the outset of Dawn Jewellery, Chan has wanted his clients to appreciate the true meaning of the products they purchase and the artisanship involved. “When we asked what sort of elements of this brand you like, I realised most of the audience could not tell me,” he says.</p>



<p></p>



<p>His desire is for customers to grasp a product’s intrinsic value; he encourages them to touch the jewellery and examine very carefully what they are looking for, stirring an appreciation of the elements added and how many hours have been spent to make such a ring.</p>



<p></p>



<p>A Japanese partner makes jewellery using traditional mokume-gane techniques that have their roots in samurai weaponry; a German partner applies machinery techniques to perfect their rings and make them stronger. “This is the value; this is the story,” he says, outlining the ethos of Dawn Jewellery. “Each of the craftsmen, when they make things, each mark left – it means something, either perfections or aesthetic judgment.”</p>



<p></p>



<p><em>Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction: Joseff Musa Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Make Up: Owen Ko Venue: Sunsmith workshop</em></p>



<p><em>Read the full interview in the May 2023 issue (pg: 100). Available on the Gafencu app on Android and Apple.</em></p>


All about Yve: Through Dawn Jewellery, Yve Chan unites a passion for craftsmanship and connecting cultures


<figure class="wp-block-video"><video autoplay controls src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/2305/2305_GMHK_Interview_Oliviakung.mp4"></video></figure>



<p>Live, laugh, and love – three things that, according to Olivia Kung, make the world go around and a better place. As the daughter of a former Chief Investigator of the Operations Department Independent Commission Against Corruption, her fate was somewhat determined at the age of five when she put on her father’s barrister’s gown one night. She laughs from her gut, the way you would with family, as she recalls this significant moment in her childhood, and delivers the verdict that it made her into the woman she is now.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK8785-pp-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73993"/></figure></div>


<p>“I wish I had that power over my child,” says Kung, reflecting upon her father’s influence in shaping her life. “But things are just different now, aren’t they? People in 2023 create their own path, for better or for worse, defying the ‘norms’ the society or what their family might believe in. The determination of my teenage son really inspires me to do more and be the best version of myself.”</p>



<p></p>



<p>The walls of her office at Wellington Legal, where she is a partner and sits on the board of founders, are filled with watercolour paintings by her son, juxtaposing with the grey and glass walls of the skyscrapers within the heart of Central. With decades of legal experience under her belt, Kung has litigated expertly in a wide variety of areas including complex property ownership disputes, fraud cases, debt recovery and bankruptcy as well as personal injury claims. It’s no surprise that these cases, which she has successfully defended, attracted media attention.</p>



<p></p>



<p>The many charms of her life, of course, have not arrived without solid background work. Before the day of our interview and photo shoot, she did her due diligence on the magazine, the lawyer’s instinct for discovery taking hold. It was, however, the entertainment industry that gave her the confidence and wit, as well as the time-management skills, needed to present legal cases – growing up she had juggled academic studies with extra-curricular activities in showbusiness.</p>



<p></p>



<p>“I did acting and hosting stints at RTHK for their children’s TV programs. I am not sure how I managed it, but I did,” she says. “Sometimes, life really surprises us.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK8746-pp-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73992"/></figure></div>


<p><strong>Her honour</strong><br>Questions of destiny and volition have trailed Kung through her life. At a young age, she already knew how to distinguish a great lawyer – by their creativity. With an eye for making connections and an ear for deft persuasion, it is a quality that she has been judged to possess.</p>



<p></p>



<p>“As a lawyer, I think it’s crucial to act not only by the book but also with a heart and mind for justice. Common sense, though not so common these days, has to be played in order to win a case,” she emphasises.</p>



<p></p>



<p>For the self-confessed goal-getter, a diminutive frame belies a commanding presence. The Queen Mary University of London School of Law alumnus completed her Legal Practice Course at the University of Exeter and attained qualifications to be a solicitor in England, Wales and Hong Kong. Prior to Wellington Legal, she worked for several top-tier firms in the UK, a leading local practice in Hong Kong and as in-house counsel for a listed financial company.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="901" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK8997-pp-scaled-e1683085349263-901x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73995"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Marcus double-breasted wool-blend felt blazer by Sandro (courtesy of The Outnet), One-shoulder stretch jersey top by Helmut Lang (courtesy of The Outnet), Le Sylvie cropped highrise straight-leg jeans by Frame (courtesy of The Outnet)</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p><strong>No objection</strong><br>While as poised as you might expect from an established lawyer, Kung defies other stereotypical traits that are applied to the legal profession; she is neither solemn nor uptight. After a few clicks for the test shots and a quick pointer on how to pose, she is nailing the photoshoot, lounging in a lazyboy in the middle of the bustling city traffic.</p>



<p></p>



<p>“I taught myself to be adaptive to any kind of situation. Whatever background you may have, school you graduated from or clan you belong to, it is important to adapt to the situation you are put into,” she says. “We must never say no easily and be done with it. We find the solution there possibly is, no matter how small or big, and we take that and make it work.”</p>



<p></p>



<p>Undeniably, this flexibility guides her as a lawyer, as does her capability to be fair and rational. Dignity is another word she often brings up. She says she has been defending a person’s right to dignity from day one and she still holds herself to that standard.</p>



<p></p>



<p>“Dignity can also mean having the right balance in every aspect of our lives. It’s not just about self-love anymore. It’s about making the most out of the situation we’re put into. I don’t function merely from 9 am to 5 pm. I am working 24/7. As a lawyer, as a mom, as a daughter, as a friend.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="836" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK8846-pp-scaled-e1683085437487-836x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73994"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Aisha cutout striped lurex gown by Rebecca Vallance (courtesy of Net-a-Porter)</em></figcaption></figure></div>


<p><strong>Love before money</strong><br>She expounds on the idea of “happiness” many times, too. It isn’t surprising language from the girl who worked in the entertainment industry, was raised by a well-off family and grew up as an only child. “I always tell my son to love what you do and do what you love. And this may also apply to everyone. Once you become good at it, then money will come in. Consider money as just a bonus. Happiness should always come first,” she says.</p>



<p></p>



<p>“Career choice is extremely important,” she continues. “If you pick something you hate, you&#8217;ll be spending so many hours torturing yourself, no matter how much a company would pay you. It’s the one thing in life that I think is the biggest determinant of happiness.</p>



<p></p>



<p>“I don’t really aim to leave a legacy once my time here on Earth is passed, but I hope I make people around me happy because I actually enjoy helping people. I help people because it makes me happy. It’s as simple as that.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="729" height="1024" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ACK8673-pp-scaled-e1683084093167-729x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-73990"/></figure></div>


<p><strong>By her own rules</strong><br>So what’s next for Kung? Optimism is the fuel driving every legal fight she has been in and will be involved in, and she is cooking up something exciting, yet again, in the coming months. “I cannot disclose it just yet, but it’s something that I am very passionate about. In life, you have to put in passion and dedication in order to achieve happiness and reach your full potential,” says the woman who is habitually positive about life – to the point that she is able to laugh even at the biggest of problems.</p>



<p></p>



<p>This time, though, she confesses that she might be setting up herself for criticism given the size of her ambition. Yet, there would be more people in life setting lofty targets for themselves if they had been taught to know what they believe and how to fight for it from when they first learned to speak.</p>



<p></p>



<p>Ultimately, the next chapters of her life are reading just the way she and her parents have planned, with a few tweaks and additions along the way. If there’s anything we know about attorney Olivia Kung, it is that when it comes to happiness, she will fight.</p>



<p></p>



<p><em>(Interview &amp; Art Direction: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Hair &amp; Makeup: Joenny Lau Venue: Wellington Legal Cover look: Janie one-shoulder cape-effect sequined crepe mini dress by Safiyaa, courtesy of Net-A-Porter</em>)</p>


Brief Encounter: Wellington Legal partner Olivia Kung is a law unto herself

<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Matters of the Art - Amid the ever-changing world of art, Adeline Ooi has stayed true to her heart" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z53687h6VVw" width="720" height="404" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>How does one represent the Asian art scene? According to Adeline Ooi, Director Asia of Art Basel, it has come a long way, but there’s still a long line to take. “The art scene is ever evolving, so it’s really hard to claim that this is it, we’ve made it,” she says. “But we celebrate each win and I think over the past 10 years, some of the most rewarding aspects of it is watching the art sector grow not only in Hong Kong but across Asia as well.”</p>
<p>With just six weeks before the official opening of Art Basel in Hong Kong [held from 23-25 March], Ooi takes a break in mid-February to talk about matters of the art and of the heart. Arriving in casual clothes and sneakers, it is evident that she does things by her own rules, bringing and selecting clothes from her own wardrobe for the photo shoot. “No heels for me, please,” she advises the production team.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_70725" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70725" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70725 size-full" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ACK7122_p_rgb-1-e1680755953817.jpg" alt="Adeline Ooi" width="500" height="562"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70725" class="wp-caption-text">Cetina pinstriped woven vest and nata pinstriped woven wideleg pants by LOULOU STUDIO (courtesy of Net-A-Porter)</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>Of Malaysian descent and raised by parents who worked in the plantation industry, Ooi confesses that her love for art was more slow-burn than an immediate fiery passion. Growing up in rural Malaysia, she wasn’t particular about what she wanted to be – as long as she didn’t end up in a 9-to-5 job. “Gosh, I wanted to be a flight attendant, because as a kid I thought that’s the only way that I’ll get to fly everywhere,” she says with a smile. It was only in her teenage years that she decided to study fine arts at Central Saint Martins in London and ultimately returned to Asia to pursue an art-centric career. Staying true to herself is an Ooi ethos. Although her parents first disagreed with her decision to build a career in the arts, she persisted, working at Valentine Willie Fine Art and co-founding the RogueArt cultural agency in Kuala Lumpur.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_70726" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70726" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70726 size-full" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ACK7187_p_rgb-e1680756156788.jpg" alt="Adeline Ooi" width="500" height="639"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70726" class="wp-caption-text">Heels by Giuseppe Zanotti</figcaption></figure></p>
<p>She was appointed as Director Asia for Art Basel on Boxing Day 2014. “Was it like a Christmas gift? I can’t really tell because it meant landing with my skates on. It was both scary and exhilarating,” she says.</p>
<p>For her, in hindsight, a media interview with someone from the art sector was not necessarily imaginable during the late ‘90s, and a sit-down one-on-one chat is already a big indication that the Asian art scene is progressing. She says: “This interview is already a big feat. I remember in my 20s, a job in the art world means you have to be willing to do it with hardly any or very little pay and everything was in DIY set-up. There were just fewer opportunities for us Asians in general.”</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_70728" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70728" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70728 size-full" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ACK7197_rgb-e1680763874997.jpg" alt="Adeline Ooi" width="500" height="625"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70728" class="wp-caption-text">Heels by Giuseppe Zanotti</figcaption></figure></p>
<p><strong>Art imitates Life</strong></p>
<p>It is often said that life imitates art, but for Ooi, it works the other way around. “Art may not be for everyone, so it’s really hard to say that our lives are the main inspiration of art,” she says. “I think that is something that we all need to understand. More than anything, I believe that art really documents the human story.”</p>
<p>Looking at the etymology of curating, it is hard to imagine how it ever became the profession that it is now. It was only in the later years of the 20th century that the term curator was applied to exhibition makers, eventually becoming the title for some of the art world’s big players – Ooi now among them. Now in a globalised digital age, she is redefining her own profession as it evolves once again and how art fits within today’s creative scene. “I personally don’t believe in the notion that collecting art has to relate to a great investment. Sometimes we love something, but we don’t necessarily have to own it. The best way to experience art is in the chance encounters at a museum.”</p>
<p><em>(Interview by: Joseff Musa, Photographer: Jack Law, Art Direction and Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma,</em><br />
<em>Videographer: Jack Fontanilla, Hair &amp; Makeup: Heti Tsang and Venue: M+)</em></p>
<p><em>Read the full interview in the April 2023 issue (pg: 100). Available on the Gafencu app on&nbsp;Android&nbsp;and&nbsp;Apple.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>


Matters of the Art – Amid the ever-changing world of art, Adeline Ooi has stayed true to her heart

<p><iframe loading="lazy" width="720" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1__A7a5z5M" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>One of Hong Kong’s foremost fashion designers, Kev Yiu has headed several leading couture brands and is now focussing on his own label – <a href="https://www.kevyiu.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kev Yiu Couture</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Take us back to the day you knew you wanted to be a fashion designer. What had drawn you into it?&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Well, it all began when I was still in primary school and I started making clothes for my younger sister that were inspired by the lights and toys on show at the arcade that was home to our family business. I remember going straight there after school and just starting to design. Back then, though, my family &#8211; especially my father – saw fashion design as essentially a female thing, so no one took my interest all that seriously. If you have a passion for something and if you really want to excel at it, though, you will know deep down that that is what you are destined to do, regardless of what anyone else might think.</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_70234" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70234" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70234 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6186_p_rgb-e1678328393731.jpg" alt="Kev Yiu" width="500" height="750" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6186_p_rgb-e1678328393731.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6186_p_rgb-e1678328393731-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70234" class="wp-caption-text">Blazer by Balmain, Necklace by Chanel</figcaption></figure></p>
<p><strong>How did your family respond when you confirmed you wanted to pursue that particular passion?&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Well, here’s the thing… I took up fashion design but I didn’t tell them, trying hard to keep it from my dad in particular who was a policeman. Ironically, though, it was also because of him that I got to study in the UK on account of a scholarship programme, especially on offer to the children of Hong Kong policemen. It was only when they got my report card for the first semester that they found out what was I really studying. My dad was furious and that was really no surprise.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily advise any kids who find themselves in a similar situation today &#8211; with many families in Hong Kong still not particularly progressive-minded – to follow my example. While I was fortunate and it all worked out for me in the end, that may well not be the case for everyone. Ultimately, we all find our own route to success and that just happened to be mine.&nbsp;</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_70235" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70235" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70235 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6235_p_rgb-e1678328539158.jpg" alt="Kev Yiu" width="500" height="660" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6235_p_rgb-e1678328539158.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6235_p_rgb-e1678328539158-200x264.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6235_p_rgb-e1678328539158-212x280.jpg 212w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6235_p_rgb-e1678328539158-120x158.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6235_p_rgb-e1678328539158-400x528.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70235" class="wp-caption-text">Jacket, pants and shoes by Dolce &amp; Gabbana</figcaption></figure></p>
<p><strong>Given the sector is famously saturated and intensively competitive, how did you first make your mark in the Hong Kong fashion world?&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>I just kept going. When I first came back to Hong Kong, I just took a 9-5 job as a way of making enough money to live. Fast forward two years and I was hired by a major mainland brand to design handbags for them. This, in turn, led me to me becoming one of 18 contestants in a reality TV design challenge. While I was the first to be eliminated, even that didn’t discourage me. My competitive nature just kept me going and going. In the end, it took me another six months of doing the same thing over and over – looking for the right assignment, knocking on doors and taking on whatever I was offered. It&#8217;s a daunting process, but I believe it will always pay off eventually. In my case, I’m now working with my fourth investor as we look to expand the Kev Yiu Couture brand.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>If fashion design hadn’t worked out for you, did you have a Plan B?&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Designing is the only thing I’m good at. It is very much part of my nature to want to tell a story and so I am forever visualising how people should look. My mind is always racing ahead in that regard, so there really was no Plan B for me. This was always my ultimate and only career goal.&nbsp;</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_70233" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70233" style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70233 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6151_p_rgb-e1678328069399.jpg" alt="Kev Yiu" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6151_p_rgb-e1678328069399.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6151_p_rgb-e1678328069399-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6151_p_rgb-e1678328069399-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70233" class="wp-caption-text">Top by Versace, Pants by Balenciaga</figcaption></figure></p>
<p><strong>How do you respond to those who denounce the fashion industry as wholly impractical and fixated on excess?&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Well for me, I’d never want to be deemed a practical designer. I see focusing on practicality as certain to compromise the quality of any work. Essentially, I believe couture is inherently excessive. It is, after all, quite literally wearable art. As a couturier, then, it’s really hard to restrict yourself to the solely practical.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Walk us through your design and creative process.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>It’s all about lines and structure. I want to create something that’s both classy and complementary to any client’s own look and style. I’d like to think that it’s very much part of my job to help women define what makes them unique and beautiful and then accentuate those qualities with whatever I create for them. My first question to any client is always: “What are your body insecurities?” I then want to factor in those insecurities and also emphasise their best assets. It’s really all about explaining to the client what looks best on them. As a designer, I always want to make women feel as beautiful as possible. Fashion, after all, is about feeling good in whatever you’re wearing. Essentially, that’s its function.&nbsp;</p>
<p><figure id="attachment_70232" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-70232" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-70232 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6010_p_rgb-e1678328454507.jpg" alt="Kev Yiu" width="500" height="750" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6010_p_rgb-e1678328454507.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACK6010_p_rgb-e1678328454507-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-70232" class="wp-caption-text">Suit jacket by Lanvin</figcaption></figure></p>
<p><strong>In career terms, what was your punch-in-the-air moment?&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Ultimately, I’d have to say it was the first time a celebrity picked one of my designs and wore it on stage. It was Sammy Cheng [the renowned Hong Kong singer and actor] and I remember every little detail. I was completely overwhelmed&#8230;</p>
<p><em>(Interview by: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction and Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla)</em></p>
<p><em>Read the full interview in the March 2023 issue (pg: 96). Available on the Gafencu app on&nbsp;Android&nbsp;and&nbsp;Apple.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>


In his Yiuniverse: Kev Yiu on building his personal brand and fulfilling his fashion design destiny

<p><div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-68468-1" width="640" height="360" autoplay="1" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2211_GMHK_Interview_IndraBana.mp4?_=1" /><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2211_GMHK_Interview_IndraBana.mp4">//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2211_GMHK_Interview_IndraBana.mp4</a></video></div></p>
<p>Since the mid 80s, Indra Banga has taken over many different roles such as the Director of the Caravel Foundation, as a light of the Banga’s home and as an Indian woman in Hong Kong.</p>
<p><strong>What made you decide to move to Hong Kong?</strong><br />
My husband and I were working in London in 1984, the year the Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed. The company my husband worked for saw a lot of opportunities as likely to emerge in China and, as a result, he was asked to move to Hong Kong. We originally planned to stay for three years but, 38 years later, we’re still here. And this is very much our home now.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68505 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="446" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446-200x127.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446-600x382.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446-439x280.jpg 439w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446-120x76.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446-500x319.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/700x446-400x255.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></p>
<p><strong>What has stayed with you from your childhood back in India?</strong><br />
My childhood was very structured and disciplined, because my parents were in the army. We were taught to always be diligent and honest and that’s something I have tried to pass on to my own children. That’s not to say it wasn’t fun; I had no responsibilities back then after all. By contrast, now I am responsible for a huge number of people through the many charities I am involved in.</p>
<p><strong>How has the Indian community reacted to the decision of some to exit Hong Kong over recent years?</strong><br />
The majority of the Indian people identify as Hong Kongers. We feel that, unless there’s ever some kind of a move to push us out of the city, then we are here to stay. When people ask what my plan B is, I always say “Plan B is Hong Kong, Plan C is Hong Kong…”</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68473" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ACK9359x1p.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="699"></p>
<p><strong>What was it like being a new arrival in Hong Kong back then?</strong><br />
I first came to Hong Kong in 1985 and didn’t speak the language. It was a very open society, though, and I didn’t find things too difficult. I never really felt that I needed to be western or Chinese. I felt I could just be myself.</p>
<p>That all changed a bit in 2003, however, the year of the SARS outbreak. While a lot of foreigners sent their wives and children back home, many Indians stayed put. That was when the locals started to&nbsp;see us as one of them, largely because we didn’t abandon them.</p>
<p>Now, in the case of my children, I don&#8217;t see them as Punjabi, or Chinese, but rather as global children and global citizens who can easily fit in wherever they are. At the end of the day, I think it’s important for everyone to be themselves without any fear of judgement, discrimination or intimidation.</p>
<p><strong>What are your favourite places in Hong Kong?</strong><br />
Aside from the famous seafood restaurants and country parks, my new favourite place is my daughter Dana’s house, simply because my grandchildren are there.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68475" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ACK9429x1p.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="699"></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;">“I don&#8217;t see my children as Punjabi, or Chinese, but rather as global citizens who can fit in anywhere. It&#8217;s important for everyone to live without the fear of judgemement and intimidation.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Do you consider yourself and your husband as a power couple?</strong><br />
While I don’t think we’re a power couple, I do think we are a great team. In fact, behind every successful person, there is a team as I don’t think anybody can succeed on their own. Making it as an entrepreneur requires three things &#8211; hard work, knowledge and luck. If you have the other two, but don’t have luck, you won’t get anywhere. If you have a lot of support, though, luck becomes less of a factor, perhaps because having the backing of the right people may be all the luck you need.</p>
<p><strong>You’ve billed one of your recent projects –&nbsp;</strong><strong>the revival of the Gurudwara Khalsa Diwan&nbsp;</strong><strong>Sikh temple &#8211; as a gift to Hong Kong’s Indian&nbsp;</strong><strong>community. What inspired this particular&nbsp;</strong><strong>initiative?</strong><br />
The Sikh community in Hong Kong is very small but very vibrant. The present Gurudwara dates back to 1901 and, in 2013, we started to see cracks in the&nbsp;building. At the time, we felt that in order to maintain our identity and honour our heritage, we had to build a new Gurudwara. Given there are only 15,000 Sikhs in Hong Kong, it was difficult to raise the money required. As a result, our focus is now on ensuring our current temple is still standing in a 100 years’ time.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68481" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ACK9290x1p.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="699"></p>
<p><strong>Is your charitable work exclusively focused on the&nbsp;</strong><strong>Indian community?</strong><br />
While there is a lot of need within the Indian community, we don&#8217;t restrict our activities to benefiting specific ethnic minorities. We have, for instance, established endowments at the three US universities our children attended &#8211; Princeton, Dartmouth and Duke. These are open to any gifted student who lacks the financial resources to study at one of these institutions, whether they are from India, Hong Kong or China. We do not make distinctions and we are looking to support young people from all walks of life.</p>
<p><strong>In addition to your other commitments, you’ve also&nbsp;</strong><strong>found time to be the President of the Hong Kong&nbsp;</strong><strong>Indian Women’s Club (HKIWC) for some 10 years&nbsp;</strong><strong>now. How has that particular institution evolved?</strong><br />
From the day it was founded in 1957, the HKIWC has always been dedicated to helping the underprivileged and the marginalised, a sign that many Indian women in Hong Kong have long prioritised charitable initiatives.</p>
<p>As the years have gone by, it has become a much more open and vocal body, while its focus has broadened beyond helping the Indian community and into meeting the needs of the local population in general. Throughout the last three years, for instance, we partnered with various organisations to help provide Covid relief by preparing 300 meals a day for those in need. While it’s never been a stay-at-home organisation, its members are now out and about more than ever as they take a lead across a wide range of philanthropic endeavours.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-68482" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ACK9547x1p.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="699"></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;">“Finding success requires hard work, knowledge and luck. Without luck, you won’t get anywhere. If you have a lot of support, luck becomes less of a factor.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>You’re particularly well known for your work&nbsp;</strong><strong>with the Caravel Foundation. What do you see as&nbsp;</strong><strong>its primary focus?</strong><br />
The Caravel Foundation was set up to help the underprivileged get better access to education and healthcare. Our hope is that, over time, those who benefit from our scholarship programme will form a distinct group, a kind of alumni association. We would welcome such individuals to intern or work with us and believe they would also be able to support one another in a variety of different ways.</p>
<p>Another one of our core activities sees us working very closely with Integrated Brilliant Education. Our backing helps them provide Cantonese classes to underprivileged Non-Chinese Speaking children throughout Hong Kong. At present, we are working with about 300 students, many of whom we have provided with a laptop or an iPad to help build up their technological skills. Next year we are planning to open a kindergarten, which will provide an immersive Cantonese experience for children as young as three.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-68491" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ACK9265x1p-e1667531774840.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="699" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ACK9265x1p-e1667531774840.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ACK9265x1p-e1667531774840-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></p>
<p><strong>You recently received an honorary fellowship&nbsp;</strong><strong>from the City University of Hong Kong. How did&nbsp;</strong><strong>that come about?</strong><br />
Well, we’ve long admired the way they operate. Beyond educating students, they also use innovative technology to introduce new concepts and ideas to the general public. This led to us working with them to launch the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery, a space dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to showcase art. To date, our biggest exhibition focused on the works of Leonardo da Vinci, with interactive technology.</p>
<p><strong>Amid all the changes you have witnessed, what have&nbsp;</strong><strong>been the constants in your life?</strong><br />
My friends and family. I value friendship beyond anything and I can proudly say that I still have many of the same friends I had 40 years ago. While I have also made a lot of new friends, my old friends have always been there. It&#8217;s the same with my family. Together, they have been my ever-present support system, unwaveringly constant and enduringly strong.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>(Interview by: Joseff Musa Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction and Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma<br />
Videographer: Jackie Chan Hair and Make Up: Heti Tsang)</p>

Tag: interview