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<video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-47882-1" width="640" height="360" autoplay="1" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1908/1908_GMHK_Interview_BonitaCheung.mp4?_=1" /><a href="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1908/1908_GMHK_Interview_BonitaCheung.mp4">https://www.igafencu.com/video/1908/1908_GMHK_Interview_BonitaCheung.mp4</a></video></div>

In 1998 you launched Tassels, your first&nbsp;fashion label. Four years later, the Bonita Cheung range&nbsp;made its debut, followed by Ni-Chi in 2009. Can you tell&nbsp;us a little about the genesis of each line?
After graduating, I didn’t jump straight into the fashion&nbsp;industry. Instead, I worked in the luxury jewellery sector,&nbsp;focussing on the marketing and advertising side. By 1998,&nbsp;though, I’d realised that fashion was where I really wanted to&nbsp;be and that I should really make the move before it was too&nbsp;late. Soon after, I opened my own workshop in Central and&nbsp;started creating bespoke items, evening and wedding pieces&nbsp;under the Tassels brand.
After a few years spent establishing Tassels and building up&nbsp;my clientele, I felt it was time to branch out under my own name.&nbsp;The result was the Bonita Cheung collection, which was picked&nbsp;up by Lane Crawford as part of its ready-made couture offering.&nbsp;Then, after I’d been working with Reina Chau [one of Hong&nbsp;Kong’s most stylish socialites and a leading patron of the arts] for&nbsp;several years, we both realised we shared a very similar approach&nbsp;to fashion and matching beliefs in the kind of styles we wanted to&nbsp;create. This led us to collaborate on our own ready-to-wear line&nbsp;– Ni-Chi. The company name was actually a combination of our&nbsp;daughters’ names – Nicole on my side and Chiara on hers.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-47888" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B.jpg" alt="bonita cheung" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/700x466-copyPeople2_B-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
When you are designing outfits, how do you visualise&nbsp;the women who will ultimately wear them?
I always imagine that my pieces appeal to women who are&nbsp;not easily influenced by the trends followed by others, while&nbsp;also being confident and fun to be around. Ultimately, my&nbsp;clothes are made for the kind of woman who isn’t afraid to try&nbsp;something new and who relishes every new adventure.
How would you describe your own approach&nbsp;to fashion design?
For me, it’s all about creating something that will&nbsp;withstand the test of time and be marked as a&nbsp;classic – not in the sense that it’s in any way old fashioned,&nbsp;but more that it has an enduring appeal.&nbsp;To my mind, you should be able to dust something&nbsp;off a few seasons after you bought it and find that&nbsp;you still want to wear it, largely because it’s both&nbsp;memorable and unique.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-47885" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_E.jpg" alt="bonita cheung" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_E.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_E-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_E-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_E-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_E-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
You’ve long been associated with the Hong&nbsp;Kong Fashion Designers’ Association…
I was initially approached to be one of the executive&nbsp;members. Later, when the chairman found I had&nbsp;a background in marketing, I was asked to focus&nbsp;more on that side of their activities. This led to me&nbsp;creating events that really showcased the work of&nbsp;the city’s fashion designers.
It was around that time that you set out&nbsp;to break records in association with the&nbsp;Danish Fashion Institute…
All that actually began with a conversation with Eva&nbsp;Kruse, the CEO of the Danish Fashion Institute (now&nbsp;the Global Fashion Agenda). Some years earlier, they&nbsp;held a very successful event – The World’s Greatest&nbsp;Catwalk – which had featured the longest runway&nbsp;ever seen at a fashion event. We decided to try and&nbsp;break that record, so we then had to find somewhere&nbsp;in Hong Kong that could accommodate the mammoth&nbsp;catwalk we had in mind. In the end, a 3.2km runway&nbsp;was created along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in&nbsp;Tsim Sha Tsui. Some 340 models took part and it took&nbsp;each of them 45 minutes to walk the full length of the&nbsp;catwalk, which saw us establish a new world record.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-47883" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_C.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_C.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_C-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_C-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_C-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_C-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Last year, you were the Project Curator&nbsp;for Juxtaposed Fashion X Music, a major&nbsp;event in the city, which showcased over 150&nbsp;different outfits from 75 local designers.&nbsp;What made you think the city’s fashion&nbsp;community needed to up its visibility?
Well, I think every city needs its own distinct&nbsp;character and fashion is a huge part of Hong Kong’s&nbsp;identity, not least because people here just love to&nbsp;style it up. While we are universally recognised as&nbsp;a shopper’s paradise, our local brands are largely&nbsp;under-exposed. On top of that, it’s far from easy for&nbsp;local designers to survive against all the international&nbsp;competition and the ever-rising rents. Having&nbsp;experienced all that for myself, I really wanted&nbsp;to help the up-and-coming generation of&nbsp;designers to get the kind of exposure and&nbsp;create the kind of noise necessary to overcome&nbsp;these very real challenges.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-47884" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_D.jpg" alt="" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_D.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_D-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_D-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_D-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/466x700-People2_D-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Where do you stand on the much debated&nbsp;diversity issues the fashion&nbsp;industry has had to contend with?
Well , we definitely need a greater&nbsp;commitment to diversity. To be brutally&nbsp;honest, 99 percent of models are still all&nbsp;drawn from the same demographic, which&nbsp;is a great shame. It’s really only when you&nbsp;have a more widely representative selection&nbsp;of models that you can truly showcase every&nbsp;design possibility. I want women – whether&nbsp;they are 155cm tall or 185cm, whether they&nbsp;weigh 100 pounds or 150 pounds – to know&nbsp;that they can look good in my designs. It also&nbsp;gives fashion an added element of reality –&nbsp;clothes aren’t meant to be costumes; they are&nbsp;meant to be worn by real people.
Thank you.

Interview by: <a href="mailto:bailey@itotalmedia.com">Bailey Atkinson </a> 
 Photos: Jack Law 
 Art Direction: San Wong 
 Venue: <a href="https://www.sicis.com/en_gb/">SICIS Hong Kong </a> 
 Make-up: Margaret Wong 
 Wardrobe: Bonita Cheung 
For the full article, please find the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the PDF version on the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google&nbsp;<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gafencu.android&amp;hl=en">Play Store</a>&nbsp;or Apple&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gafencu/id541555130?mt=8">App Store</a>.

La Styla Bonita: Bonita Cheung, one of Hong Kong’s foremost fashion impresarios, now has designs on the future…

With less than one week to go till Father&#8217;s Day, if you&#8217;re still struggling to find a suitable gift for your sartorial-minded papa, why not make a pit stop at Tassels, one of the leading retailers for gentlemen&#8217;s leather goods in the city?
<figure id="attachment_46413" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46413" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-46413" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods.jpg" alt="Tassels" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kunei-leather-goods-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-46413" class="wp-caption-text">Kunei leather goods</figcaption></figure>
Especially for Father&#8217;s Day, Tassels has curated the most carefully-selected collection of luxury accessories, sure to appease the tastes of even the most discerning of gentlemen. On top of the pack is obviously the wide range of leather good products from Kunei, a Japanese brand that&#8217;s known for its emphasis on handmade goods, especially for the use of Horween Shell Cordovan, a strong and rare material that&#8217;s highly sought after by Cordovan lovers. Their leather goods are even more enhanced by the use of KiryuOmeshi silk, a fabric favoured by the 11th Shōgun himself, for its sturdiness and superior quality. &nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_46410" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46410" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-46410" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties.jpg" alt="Tassels" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/E.Marinella-ties-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-46410" class="wp-caption-text">E.Marinella ties</figcaption></figure>
If silk is what you&#8217;d prefer to gift your dearest dad this Father&#8217;s Day, then the handmade neckties from E.Marinella should also be among your first port of call. Not only does this Naples-born brand feature vintage silk fabrics that are extremely rare to find these days, they also use a traditional hand-roll technique to give their ties a beautiful well-crafted look.
<figure id="attachment_46411" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46411" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-46411" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Fine-leather-belts-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-46411" class="wp-caption-text">Fine leather belts</figcaption></figure>
As any fashion-conscious father would know, a fine pair of shoes needs to be supplemented by matching-colour belts for a truly formal look, so in tune with that, Tassel&#8217;s most popular brands like Alden, Crockett &amp; Jones, Edward Green and Rivolta are now offering a wide collection of leather belts with finest calfskin to match with their beloved shoes.
So, be it a shoe-belt pairing or a nice necktie, it would not only make your dad look dapper, it would also be a thoughtful gift that he&#8217;s sure to cherish.
Tassels, B64-65 The Landmark, Central

Tassels hosts a range of premium products for dapper dads

Quality and tradition. These are the hallmarks of any leather shoe made from luxury British footwear label Barker, a 135-year-old marque dedicated to producing the finest English footwear using treasured traditional shoemaking techniques. But that&#8217;s not to say the brand is stuck in the past. It recently launched an online store and has expanded into new markets, most recently in Hong Kong, where its top-notch products can now be found at <a href="http://www.tassels.com.hk/">Tassels</a>, the city&#8217;s go-to expert in world-class men’s footwear. We sat with Alan Pringle, CEO of Barker, to found out the secret to the premium shoemaker&#8217;s longevity and success.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40104 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker.jpg" alt="CEO Alan Pringle on the secrets to success for Barker, the luxury British shoemaker" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CEO-Alan-Pringle-on-the-secrets-to-success-for-Barker-the-luxury-British-shoemaker-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Tell us a bit about Barker. 
Barker is a luxury British shoemaker with over 135 years of experience in crafting the finest English leather shoes. We use only the most carefully-selected leathers and all our products are lovingly handmade to appeal to discerning modern-day gentlemen.
In your 20 years as CEO of Barker, how has the company evolved and expanded?
When I first started at Barker, the company was solely run as a B2B-only business, it was all about wholesale operating mainly within the UK. Since then, we&#8217;ve entered the retail market, and now have four dedicated Barker stores. About five years ago, we also made a major push to digitise our brand by opening our online store.
These continuing initiatives saw Barker win two prestigious awards from the UK Chamber of Commerce – the Best Digital Communications Campaign and Best Business in Northamptonshire.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40103 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-Montrose-a-quintessentially-British-leather-shoe.jpg" alt="Barker Montrose, a quintessentially British leather shoe" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-Montrose-a-quintessentially-British-leather-shoe.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-Montrose-a-quintessentially-British-leather-shoe-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-Montrose-a-quintessentially-British-leather-shoe-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-Montrose-a-quintessentially-British-leather-shoe-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-Montrose-a-quintessentially-British-leather-shoe-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
When did Barker enter the HK market?
Barker made its proper debut in Hong Kong by partnering with Tassels in 2016. We&#8217;ve only had about four or five seasons here so far so it&#8217;s early days yet, but we&#8217;re extremely pleased with the response.
What brought about the partnership with Tassels?
Tassels was pretty much the perfect partner for Barker. It&#8217;s already very well-established with a strong following of loyal customers not only in Hong Kong, but also farther afield in Japan, South Korea and China, which was helpful for us as a new brand entering these markets. Since then, I think our partnership has blossomed primarily due to the fact that both Tassels and Barker have a shared passion for offering only the best products possible.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40102 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes.jpg" alt="Barker has over 135 years of experience producing quality English leather shoes" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-has-over-135-years-of-experience-producing-quality-English-leather-shoes-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Did Barker have to adapt its shoes for Hong Kong and other Asian customers?
Yes, absolutely. For example, heavy shoes don&#8217;t work particularly well in the Asian market because the weather is much warmer here, so we shed a lot of weight from our classic designs. We also introduced models with rubber soles as customers here prefer a stronger grip than traditional leather soles may offer.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-40101 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-handcrafts-all-its-leather-shoes.jpg" alt="Barker handcrafts all its leather shoes" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-handcrafts-all-its-leather-shoes.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-handcrafts-all-its-leather-shoes-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-handcrafts-all-its-leather-shoes-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-handcrafts-all-its-leather-shoes-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Barker-handcrafts-all-its-leather-shoes-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
What do you think is the secret to Barker&#8217;s long success?
I think the biggest contributing factor is adaptability. We refuse to rest on our laurels because the world is ever-changing, particularly when it comes to fashion trends. We&#8217;re constantly analysing the market to spot emerging needs. It&#8217;s why we went online, it&#8217;s why we manufacture collections specific to Asian tastes, and it&#8217;s also why we&#8217;re currently experimenting with a brand-new women&#8217;s shoe line as well.
We try to make shoes that will appeal to everyone. For example, our Professional Collection – which has just debuted at Tassels&#8217; SOGO store – is an entry-level line that offers top-quality shoes at a reasonable cost. At the other end of the spectrum, we have our high-end Barker Black Collection, which features some of our most luxurious and meticulously crafted designs.
Thank you. 
Interview by: Tenzing Thondup

Our interview with luxury British shoemaker Barker CEO Alan Pringle

Barker CEO Alan Pringle on fine English leather shoes and the Asian market

Luxury shoe store Tassels has recently played host to the exclusive Alden Trunk Show 2018 in Hong Kong. Founded in 1884 by Charles H Alden, Alden is a family-owned business that hand-makes shoes in Massachusetts for four generations now.
The company is known for its innovation in shoe technology, from producing Goodyear welted men&#8217;s traditional shoes to designing orthopaedic shoes that allow proper fitting and help in correcting feet problems. It is Alden&#8217;s thorough research and development that makes it a leader in specialised shoes as well as in traditional footwear.
We spoke to Steve Reinhart from Alden on what makes Alden the indispensable shoe brand for gentlemen. Check out the full video.
<div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video"><video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-36635-2" width="640" height="360" autoplay="1" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1806/June1_Tassels.mp4?_=2" /><a href="https://www.igafencu.com/video/1806/June1_Tassels.mp4">https://www.igafencu.com/video/1806/June1_Tassels.mp4</a></video></div>

Best Foot Forward with Alden, the most trusted shoe-makers from the US

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Nothing completes a gentleman’s attire like a pair of good shoes. And when it comes to investing in high-quality leather shoes, Tassels and Edward Green, two of England’s most prestigious and historical shoe brands, are anyone’s safest bets.
So when the two iconic brands came together to host the Edward Green Trunk Show at the Tassels showroom at Landmark recently, high footfalls were inevitable.
Fredrik Blindheim of Edward Green specially flew in from the brand’s UK headquarters to give guests a sneak preview of what to expect next season, and also advised those looking for a pair of bespoke Edward Green shoes.
Dating back to the 1890s, Edward Green is known for finest-quality leather and hand stitches (where necessary). Neither too bulky nor too slick, the brand’s shoes are ideal for someone who wants the best combination of comfort and sophistication.

Shoetime: British shoemaker, Edward Green, hosts trunk show at Tassels showroom

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For shoe lovers, things couldn’t be better! Two of England’s most prestigious and historical shoe brands are coming together for an exclusive event in Hong Kong. 
Edward Green, a brand that dates back to 1890s, will hold a trunk show at the Tassels showroom at Landmark on 15 and 16 September. 
Fredrik Blindheim of Edward Green will flow in from the brand’s UK headquarters to give guests a sneak preview of what to expect next season, and will also provide guidance to those seeking to have their own bespoke Edward Green shoes. 
Edward Green’s expertise lies in creating shoes that are neither too bulky nor too slick. Using the finest-quality leather and hand stitches (where necessary), the brand makes the ideal gentleman’s shoes, at once discreet, elegant and comfortable. 
Those with a penchant for sophisticated footwear can grab this opportunity to interact with Fredrik and get to know more about the design ethos of the brand.

Iconic London shoemaker, Edward Green, to host trunk show in Hong Kong

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You grew up in Hong Kong. Can you tell us a little about your childhood? 
I was born here and lived in the city until I was 12. We then moved to Beijing, which was quite unusual back in the 1980s. At the time, most people were looking to move to Canada, the US, the UK or Australia. As my father was going to work in Beijing, he thought it would be good for me to experience life there for two or three years. I studied at a local school and began to learn Mandarin. I’m glad I did. It’s so much easier to learn a language when you’re young. In total, I spent two years studying in Beijing, then I went to boarding school in the UK.
As China is such a big country, my father believed that – in time – it would offer a huge number of business opportunities. He always encouraged my brother and I – and indeed the whole family – to travel. He was a fervent believer that the more you see, the more you learn. It’s so important to get to know different cultures and it’s a lot easier to learn by seeing, feeling and talking to people rather than just by reading books. As a result, my family travelled to more than 30 countries. We would travel every summer and every Christmas. To this day, I still love to travel.

<h5 style="text-align: center;"><a style="color: #ad0707;" href="//www.gafencushop.com/jonathan-young/">Click here to see more on video</a></h5>

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“When the police first saw the state of the car, they assumed we were all dead”
After living in HK and Beijing, moving to the UK must have been a bit of a culture shock… 
Moving from Hong Kong to Beijing, in the first place, involved a degree of culture shock. Back in the ’80s Beijing was very different to how it is now. Today, it’s quite an easy place to live. Back then, though, they had no idea about customer service for instance. They’re getting there now, though. Back in the ’80s, we had to argue with the sales staff all the time. 
The UK was very different again. The way that UK people think is quite different to the way Chinese people think. In Hong Kong, for instance, academic success is very important. At boarding school in the UK, though, there was a broader approach. They believed you should not limit yourself to just one area of activity. There was a belief that you should grasp every opportunity and see what you enjoy. In truth, it’s only by trying different things you find out where your strengths lie. It ended up being a much more rounded education.
In terms of Tassels, why do you think it has become such a success in Hong Kong? 
Well, we are very selective in terms of the brands we work with, all of which tend to have a considerable heritage. While most of them date back more than 100 years, they are still family-run businesses, all run by people who genuinely love shoes. Another reason is that we are all very knowledgeable when it comes to footwear. When it comes to dealing with customers, we can all talk to them about shoes and share ideas and knowledge. We have become something of a shoe gathering place. People come and see nice shoes and then discuss related issues.
Have you ever had a near-death experience? 
When I was 11 years old, I was involved in a major car accident. To this day, my hand still carries the scar. I lost skin and bone so I had to have surgery. They grafted skin from my foot onto my hand and shaved half of the bone from my toe to replace my finger. It all happened when we were driving along the Tolo Highway, when my mom passed out. It was just as she was turning, so we struck a slope and rolled down a flyover. I was thrown out of the car as I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt – that was never a requirement in the ’80s. My brother was also thrown out as the car flipped upside down. 
When I opened my eyes, my finger was dangling off my hand. There was blood everywhere. Luckily that was the worst injury. My brother had to have seven stitches on his head and my mother had to have stitches on her finger. All in all, though, it was a very lucky escape. The roof of the car was totally flattened. When the police first saw the state of the car, they assumed everyone had died. Luckily, though, my mother and brother were able to walk to the hospital, while I was taken in a wheelchair. 
The police contacted my father to tell him we had been in an accident and advised him to come to the hospital immediately. He was expecting to find us all on stretchers. When he saw us walking out of the ambulance, he was hugely relieved.
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Which profession do you consider the most overpaid? 
I don’t feel any profession is overpaid. It is a free market so pay reflects the value you add. If you are indeed overpaid, the market should automatically adjust to match the value you add and the demand for your services.
What is in your wallet right now? 
Some cash – although I don’t usually carry a lot – some credit cards, ID, of course, and some shareholder cards. I have a stake in several bars and restaurants – including Lilly and Bloom, Play and Studio – so I carry my shareholder cards around. Name cards of course, my joint bank account card with my wife, my Jockey Club card, some receipts and a bunch of different SIM cards for when I am travelling.
Where do you tend to travel to most often? 
For business, I travel to the US, the UK and Italy. When it comes to leisure, I travel to Europe once a year for skiing, I love skiing. We try to arrange a ski trip every year to France or Austria. I also love scuba diving, preferably in Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines.
Where are your favourite diving haunts? 
Sipidan is beautiful and I went to Tubbataha on a live-a-board which was amazing. It is about 16 hours from Palawan Island so you travel out on the boat overnight. The next morning, you are at the dive site and then you just dive, dive, dive for five whole days. You don’t see any land at all, just reefs and two atolls beneath the water. A scary moment came when I saw a six metre whale shark and a tiger shark swim right towards me. While not quite a near-death experience, it was one of the scariest moments I have ever had. 
We were diving off a cliff and I was the one furthest out. I was looking out into the distance and suddenly I saw this Great White headed right towards me and I thought: “Hang on a minute, why am I seeing a Great White in the tropics?” I just froze, it was so big. It was not long, but hugely bulky. All I could see was teeth. All the time, I was thinking: “If it keeps on swimming towards me, what am I going to do?” 
When it turned, I could see its stripes and I realised it was a tiger shark. We had been told there were sometimes tiger sharks there, but we were lucky to see one. It was clearly a curious shark and it was definitely checking us out.
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“There was a Great White swimming towards me. All I could see was rows and rows of teeth…”
Do you believe in the death penalty? 
I don’t. Not because no crime should be punishable by death, but because any judgement could be wrong. Someone could be innocent, wrongly convicted and executed. There is no going back after that. Okay, otherwise, they could have spent time in jail that they didn’t deserve. You can try and compensate for that. You can’t reverse the death sentence though.
How did you propose to your wife? 
I proposed in Australia. We had planned a trip there over Christmas. My wife had not travelled as much as I had, so she was keen to see more of the world. As we both like the great outdoors, we decided on a caravan trip. We flew to Perth and rented a 4&#215;4 caravan so we could drive along the trails and go off-road. 
I had told myself I would propose during the trip. At first I thought I would do it in the desert, but that didn’t have the right feel and there were too many tourists around. One night, I suggested we drive out to the beach. It was a beautiful beach. We sat and watched the sunset with a bottle of wine. At the time, I thought this is just perfect. 
Then, all of a sudden, the wind picked up and there was sand everywhere. It blew into our faces and into our wine glasses. I was left thinking: “This is so bad. It’s not the right time”. Despite this, my fiancée – as she then was – remarked how romantic it was. That persuaded me that it was the right moment after all. As the sun set, I popped the question. And she said yes.

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Blog Section

La Styla Bonita: Bonita Cheung, one of Hong Kong’s foremost fashion impresarios, now has designs on the future…

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Barker CEO Alan Pringle on fine English leather shoes and the Asian market

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Shoetime: British shoemaker, Edward Green, hosts trunk show at Tassels showroom

Iconic London shoemaker, Edward Green, to host trunk show in Hong Kong

Jonathan Young, co-founder of Tassels, explains how he stays in-step