JUICE, a store we’ve covered before here and here has recently moved to a new location in Causeway Bay. The shop is the retail arm of Edison Chen’s CLOT brand, and is a Mecca for streetwear lovers due to its exclusive, limited-edition merchandise.

The store opening also coincided with CLOT’s six-year anniversary, which drew a a large amount of fashion industry insiders and press.

Though Hong Kong is already well known for fashion, CLOT helped put the city on the map for high-end streetwear. Over the years, CLOT has launched their own signature line along with a truly impressive number of collaborations. In addition to familiar names such as Nike, Levis, and Reebok, they have worked with a who’s who of sought after Japanese labels. Their latest collection continues in this vein with iconic partners including Stussy and Disney!

Which famous names in street fashion turned up for the opening?

In order to celebrate the occasion, there was a traditional lion dance performance held in front of the new ground-floor location. Major fashion figures and celebrities participated in the ceremony.

from left: Edison, Andre, Gildas, and Hiroshi Fujiwara

In addition to CLOT front-men Edison Chen and Kevin Poon, I also spotted Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kazuki Kuraishi, Andre (the French graffiti artist,) Gildas (from record label / lifestyle brand Kitsune,) and Nike’s Fraser Cooke in attendance.

I shot a short video of the scene as the ceremony took place. On one hand I wanted to capture the celebrities assembled, on the other hand, the lion dance was really out of the ordinary, so I had a tough time deciding what to focus on! The result is a somewhat schizophrenic video. Note the height of the lion dancer on the pole – it’s rare to see the lions climb that high in Hong Kong.

The new Juice store

The new Juice is just one block away from the previous store. The main difference here is that the new address is a ground-floor location with lots of windows facing the street. The previous shop was on the second floor of a mostly residential building and the security guard was always lazy to let people in!

The new shop makes good sense from a foot-traffic perspective. It’s situated directly across from the large, multi-brand i.t store, which does a steady amount of business with nearly the same demographic.

The interior of the new shop reminds me of the original design of JUICE, which contained lots of wood. It’s warmer, and less slick than the previous iteration.

Kevin Poon from CLOT (at center in white) at the opening

Congratulations to the CLOT / JUICE gang. Wishing you continued success in the new year!

Juice
Shop A, G/F, 9-11 Cleveland Street, Fashion Walk
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

a few days before the new JUICE store opened…

Hong Kong-based fashion footwear brand Cipher held a special event at Brother and Sister recently to celebrate the launch of the Cipher Mixtape. The project includes music from ten d.j.s. and musicians from a variety of different backgrounds.

Several of the talents were on hand for the night to play short sets. Numerous guests remarked that they wished every night would feature such diverse and non-commercial sounds. The d.js. played everything from downtempo and classic Hip Hop, to rare groove and contemporary underground dance music.

Where can you find the mixtape?

The Cipher Mixtape is free, and you can download it here. The ten artists chosen include some familiar names: AKW, DJ Ceet, DJ Taku, Miss Yellow, Drafus, Good Fellas, Enso, Sushi Robot, Dirty Boneyard, and Yao.

Brother and Sister as a venue
Brother and Sister is a good space for a small to medium-sized event.

They have a built-in bar which makes serving drinks easy, as well as tables at the entrance that allow the venue to comfortably expand once more people arrive. If things really get going, the same owner has a Japanese restaurant two floors above, (Busy Suzy,) where the party can potentially continue.

Another brand-friendly feature of the subterranean store are the numerous display cases which can be customized for the night. Cipher’s shoes replaced Jeremy Scott’s Adidas line for the event.

Located along the axis of urban and luxury, Cipher’s sneakers include several lines of men’s hightops and lowtops. For more info about the brand and where you can find them, check out their website here.

Jun Takahashi is half performance artist and half mad scientist when it comes to creating his dolls. He frequently spins around inspecting his handiwork and the placement of furry material. Sometimes he picks up whole sections and starts rapidly sewing with long pulls of the thread.

Saturday night there was a large crowd gathered watching and snapping photos as the noted Japanese fashion designer (along with two assistants,) worked. Some of the onlookers stood captivated, while others shot a quick glance at the trio before continuing on.

Encouraged by a live soundtrack of sometimes striking music (by Kan Takagi and Fran-Key,) it took nearly two hours to assemble a ‘Grace’ (as Jun Takahashi calls them.) What are they made of?

It starts with a few metal pieces that resemble a microphone stand.

Attached to that base are two thin wires with outstretched hands.

The other main ingredient seems to be Teddy bears! There were plenty of discarded Teddy bear heads laying on the ground, indicating that the process uses only the body.

In place of a face, the top center of the Grace is a (working!) light bulb, similar to a bicycle light. Apart from two floppy ears, the bulb serves as the only facial feature. This time around, the Grace had a sort of Victorian Gothic style and was accessorized with diamond jewelry including an ornate necklace. It also featured a diadem or wreath of flowers on its head.

This isn’t the first time Jun Takahashi has unleashed his dolls on Hong Kong’s fashion folk. We’ve covered two previous occasions here and here.

What’s it all about?
It’s not common for the center of an event to be something as slow moving as doll construction, which begs the question – what exactly does the designer want us to get from these performances? Below are a few theories!

Maybe Jun Takahashi just likes the satisfaction of creating a doll? Unlike designing a season of clothing, (which takes a huge amount of time from start to finish,) creating a doll gives him a sense of satisfaction and can be completed within a few hours.

A large crowd was watching as he worked…

Perhaps doll making offers insight into his creative process – a system of taking things apart and reassembling them in an all together new form. Maybe he’s looking to inspire people to take a sort of alchemist’s approach to design?

On an entirely different level, it’s refreshing to have an event that isn’t overtly about selling you something. Though the motive for the night was the launch of two new fragrances, it was a very soft sell. The two hour doll creation session seemed to emphasize craft over commerce.

Fran-Key on the keyboards!

Perhaps it’s about sharing. Rarely in our contemporary urban society do people witness the act of creation. Particularly in Hong Kong, we live in a world of instant acquisition, with little or no exposure to the process of how things are made. Most people for example, only know the end product of fashion. Maybe the concept is about exposing a captive audience to share in the wonder of making something?

O.k. we’re catching up on things that happened over the last few weeks. American Apparel has finally landed in Hong Kong, curiously housed under the roof of high-fashion retailer Lane Crawford.

Will the basics-brand-with-attitude be a success?

If the turnout for the launch event is any indication, American Apparel will be a major hit!

Let’s stop and think about why.

The first thing to consider is that Lane Crawford’s core clientele are tapped into what’s happening in the greater fashion world. Many of them are of dual nationality, or have lived abroad or traveled extensively. With nearly three hundred stores in over twenty countries, it’s likely that they have encountered the American Apparel brand before.

American Apparel has built up a loyal following over the years in part because of their slimmer-fits. Their cuts are actually better suited to Asian bodies than the baggy, super-sized garments that used to dominate the market.

American Apparel has cultivated a certain trendy image over the years that fashion followers are likely to embrace.

But there’s another key differentiator that will help drive sales at Lane Crawford – price. At around $190 HKD per t-shirt, American Apparel clothing is downright inexpensive compared to everything else in the store!

Outside of film premieres and similar functions, it’s rare to see mega-stars such as Andy Lau in person. So it came as something of a surprise to see the legendary actor / singer twice in one day last week.

I first caught a glimpse of Andy Lau alongside Mainland model Du Juan and fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto during the christening of a new Y-3 shop in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The K11 “art mall”, the site of the new shop, was crowded with fans jostling for photos from the balconies.

After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, the actor and other celebrities posed for a few shots inside the store.

Andy Lau’s fans pressed up against the windows of the shop just to catch a look!

The celebration continued later that night with a fashion show and party at the Hong Kong Exhibition Center.

Unexpectedly, Andy Lau also made an appearance at the show. Stars of his caliber almost never attend these type of events.

Local party-goers were somewhat shocked to see him. As a testament to his enduring star-power, most of the people in the VIP section swarmed the area where he was sitting. (If you’re in the VIP section, aren’t you at least supposed to pretend to be cool?)

It’s no wonder stars on that level don’t attend events more frequently. It can’t be any fun to have random people pointing cameras at you every second. In heavily attended nightlife events, it also represents a logistical nightmare to provide security and facilitate a smooth entry and exit.

The Exhibition Center is a great space for a party. There are few buildings with such a large open floor plan.

When the fashion show began, Andy Lau crept up behind me to have a look. (I knew there must have been some reason for the cameras suddenly aiming at me!)

Tassels on sneakers? Three tongues on one shoe? Wings? Welcome to the Adidas Originals collection by designer Jeremy Scott!

No one could accuse this guy of being too subtle. Jeremy Scott’s flamboyant style has won him many admirers particularly among Pop stars and celebrities. Lady Gaga and Agyness Deyn both swear by him.

What was the designer wearing at Brother & Sister on Monday night?

Clad in a black matador-inspired jacket and sunglasses, Jeremy Scott mingled and posed for photos with a throng of fashion types and local celebrities.

Brother and Sister, the new store / cafe housed in the lower level of the Emperor Jewelry flagship was a good venue for the gathering.

With a long bar and a few rooms to spread out in, the small event was intimate and fun. The designer was approachable and stayed for the duration of the event.

On display was his latest collection of shoes for Adidas. Occupying one wall of the store, one could see his genius at work.

While some fashion designers tone down their creations in collaborations, Jeremy Scott channels the same unconventional, reinvent-the-wheel spirit from his high fashion line to his collection with Adidas.

Interested in learning more about the designer’s approach? Check out this illuminating interview where he talks about the benefits of his partnership with Adidas and his interest in pop-up stores.

A few weeks ago, before it officially opened, I stopped by Brother & Sister, a new project by real-life brother and sister duo, Gilbert and Cindy Yeung. The combination boutique and cafe was still in the earliest stages of development, with not much yet on the shelves.

Located in the 1881 Heritage development, just opposite the Cultural Centre, Brother and Sister is at the very start of Canton Road. But don’t look for a large sign for Brother & Sister on the ground floor. One first needs to enter via the Emperor Jewellery flagship store, and then proceed down two escalators to the basement.

While most would think of this location deep inside Emperor Jewellery as a supreme disadvantage, I believe just the opposite – that Brother and Sister’s position within Emperor Jewellery is an immense strength. Here’s why…

Wealthy tourists from Mainland China are a main driver of luxury sales in Hong Kong. These consumers buy watches and jewelry in H.K. to avoid a duty on luxury items in China, as well as to be certain of the authenticity of the merchandise.

Emperor Jewellery flagship store, Canton Road

Emperor Jewelry is a trusted name in selling luxury watches and jewelry. Being located inside such a well-known purveyor of upscale brands is like giving the shopper a guarantee of the quality of the merchandise inside.

And this is essential because of the type of brands carried by Brother & Sister. Compared to the blue-chip names showcased by Emperor Jewellery, Brother & Sister highlights smaller, funkier, less conventional brands.

Taking the shop’s location into consideration, Brother and Sister is in a rare position to sell alternative luxury products to a crowd that wouldn’t intentionally enter a Justin Davis or Rock Candy store. They can reach a wider audience precisely because the customers will be initially drawn by the classic brands offered by Emperor.

In this sense, Brother and Sister provides an excellent opportunity to introduce specialty brands to well-heeled shoppers. The big question here is – do Mainland consumers only buy well-known luxury brands because they want others to recognize their status and give them face? Or will they consider purchasing items based on other factors such as style and design?

Brother & Sister boutique and cafe
Basement, Shop B-02, 1881 Heritage
2A Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

1881 Heritage at night

Hong Kong’s bad-boy jewelry brand, Rock Candy, relocated from Soho to shopping haven Causeway Bay last week. The new store is just one floor below the well-known boutique Juice, on Paterson Street.

What makes this change of venue such a smart move?

Rock Candy’s first branch was on Elgin Street near Hollywood Road in Soho. Although it was a well designed store with a cool location, the Soho neighborhood isn’t a shopping destination for stylish young consumers – the brand’s target audience.

Affluent young shoppers looking for something upscale with a little attitude would likely head to Causeway Bay.

Juice’s new neighbor…
Being located one floor down from Juice, has its advantages. The two stores may in fact develop a symbiotic relationship. Juice is already a destination shop for its limited edition CLOT merchandise and exclusive collaborations. Because both Rock Candy and Juice offer elite local brands, shoppers who desire something high-end, yet only available in Hong Kong are now more likely to make a pilgrimage to the building.

The two are not in direct competition. Though Rock Candy has dabbled in clothing, their main focus is on diamond jewelry. Juice, on the other hand is strong with clothing, shoes, and accessories.

The two can actually help draw traffic for one another. Shoppers that go to one store are now likely to visit both. For shoppers with little time on their hands, the fact that they can now catch two interesting local stores at one spot makes this a more attractive destination.

The new Rock Candy store

The store itself boasts a contemporary design, with raw interiors offset by sharp modern touches.

The support columns are naked cement, while the cabinets are gleaming glass boxes.

Lest we forget the brand’s music-themed merchandise and motifs, an entire wall of the shop is made up of real speakers!

Rock Candy store
1/F, Hyde Park Mansion
53 Paterson Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s CLOT crew often take a creative approach to generating buzz for their high-end street wear. Over the years they have proven masterful at fermenting interest in their brand by playing with the perceived value of limited edition items.

The Juice Secret Box Store, which launched last week and will close after February 4th, is the latest incarnation of this formula.

Stopping by on a recent afternoon, the fully enclosed shop is located in a small, cordoned-off area of LCX in Causeway Bay. At the time of my visit there was a line of people waiting to get in.

A method of standing out and driving traffic
The project is a smart move for LCX, which still hasn’t defined itself as a destination in shop-saturated Causeway Bay.

The Juice Secret Box store, stocked with rare items, is a good way to differentiate LCX and provide an increase in foot-traffic. Even if just temporary, the Juice Secret Box store adds something to their mix that shoppers can’t find anywhere else in the city.

Feeling lucky?
If a pop-up shop packed with exclusive merchandise still isn’t enough, there’s also a smart little Hong Kong twist to the equation that adds extra excitement. It arrives in the form of the Secret Box lucky draw.

The lucky draw is a Hong Kong favorite and a staple attraction that can be found at nearly every type of function in the city. (Hong Kong loves a good old-fashioned something-for-nothing give-away.)

In a traditional lucky draw, when consumers purchase something, they qualify for a chance to win a prize. (Lucky draws by the way, are also an excellent way of grabbing contact information from consumers.) After a certain time period, a winner is chosen randomly and a prize is handed out. However, this special Secret Box Lucky Draw allows shoppers to purchase the box blindly, and gives them the opportunity to receive surprise items inside.

A giant secret box?
The store itself has an air of mystery. The four walls around it are covered floor-to-ceiling in a graphic that makes it resemble a giant cardboard box. Shoppers are let in, only a handful at a time, and exit from the opposite side of the structure.

Juice Secret Box Store
LCX – Causeway Bay
1/F, 9 Kingston Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

The limited edition T-shirt is part of Diesel’s latest campaign, Be Stupid. The message ‘Be Stupid’ here means that it’s o.k. to go against traditional wisdom in pursuing your passion. Taking the unconventional path is often thought of by some as being stupid. The words on the shirt are encouragement to those pursuing alternative careers, even if they are outside of the norm.

Local role models for the Be Stupid campaign include: Wing Shya, Simon Birch, Tony Chan, Phat Chan, DJ Miss Yellow, Brian Siswojo, Annie Lee, and Prodip Leung. All of them have become successful following their passions and pursuing the things they love.

To get your Be Stupid T-shirt, go to any of the locations below. The shirts will be passed out on a first come basis while supplies last, starting at 1pm on Friday, January 22nd.

There are two locations on Hong Kong Island, and one in Kowloon:

The Gateway (go to the far entrance near China Hong Kong City)
Canton Road

Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Diesel Causeway Bay store
G/F, 6 Kingston Street

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Diesel Flagship Store
Pacific House
 G/F, 20 Queens Road
 Central
Central, Hong Kong