THE Design RENAISSANCE

Call it the glitzy gateway to the Asia Pacific or a soaring paean to consumerism, but few will accuse Hong Kong of harbouring a creative design renaissance, least of all Hongkongers themselves. They’ll gamely hem and haw over the notion. Like Jillian Xin does.

Born in China and brought up in the UK, the fashion retail consultant worked in London and Shanghai before shifting base to Hong Kong to work as a buyer with the city’s iconic luxury retailer, Lane Crawford. Nibbling into a sweet-salty ice cream sandwich—we’re at the Admiralty outlet of hipster cafe chain ()—helps melt her initial dismissive stance. Jillian is bullish on a new breed of brands that are forging a fresh Hong Kong identity. From the gender-neutral streetwear of Ground Zero () to rebelliously feminine dresses by () that have broken out on global ramps and () bespoke men’s suits and () sequinned gowns included—while infusing a contemporary, multicultural storytelling element into their aesthetic. On weekends, you won’t find Jillian mall-hopping. Instead, she’s scoping new talents at ()—a design and retail hub with 100 shops and studios, located in two historic buildings on Hollywood Road—and (), a business incubator and experiential retail space in Tsuen Wan. These hybrid, experimental spaces are providing a stage for new designers and brands to thrive in a cut-throat and notoriously expensive retail landscape.