Erin Li

There’s a jewelry store so influential that even thieves steer clear, because its clientele includes some of the biggest names—A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, Drake, and even Beyonce. Without any celebrity endorsements, this store thrives due to the caring owner who treats her clients like family, inspiring them to promote her out of sheer loyalty. Her name is A$AP Eva. Eva, who speaks fluent Cantonese, immigrated from Macau to the United States as a child. With $100,000 borrowed from her family, she opened Popular Jewelry in New York’s Chinatown. The store not only offers a range of gold chains and diamond accessories but also custom-made metal grills, known for its reasonable prices and attentive service. In the 90s, flashy jewelry became an emblem of HipHop culture, attracting Wu-Tang...

Starting from a small shop, NIGO pushed Japanese fashion onto the world stage, expanding his business empire across menswear, womenswear, children’s fashion, cafés, and music labels. Even after facing a significant commercial crisis, he stayed true to himself, creating a new brand and revitalizing his career. Today, let’s dive into three little-known facts about NIGO, the iconic designer who has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry. Firstly, NIGO’s real name is Tomoaki Nagao. Due to his resemblance to the fashion icon Hiroshi Fujiwara, friends jokingly called him “Fujiwara No. 2.” Over time, they began to call him “NIGO,” a name that sounds similar to “No. 2” in Japanese pronunciation. NIGO loved the name, and it has stuck ever since. Secondly, NIGO is a ...

The term “Haute Couture” comes from French, symbolizing the pinnacle of fashion excellence. Every Haute Couture fashion show presents breathtaking works, whether it’s flawless tailoring, exquisite silhouettes, or intricate craftsmanship. These shows highlight the technical mastery and unique allure of each participating brand. However, to become a true Haute Couture brand requires meeting an extremely stringent set of standards. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode in Paris clearly defines these criteria: 1️. Every garment must be custom-made for individual clients, with at least one fitting session. 2️. The atelier must employ at least 15 full-time staff and 20 specialized seamstresses. 3️. Each brand must present at least 50 new designs at the Haute Couture fashi...

Clare Waight Keller, the designer who created Meghan Markle’s wedding gown and has held positions as a designer and creative director at luxury houses like Gucci, Givenchy, and Chloé, is now venturing into the world of casual apparel as the new Creative Director at UNIQLO. Hailing from the UK, Clare began her career in the 1990s in New York City, initially working as an accessory designer for American brands such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. In 2000, she joined Gucci, where she worked under the direction of Creative Director Tom Ford, contributing to the design of women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. In 2011, Clare joined the luxury brand Chloé as Creative Director, infusing the brand’s elegant essence with a more modern, intellectual approach to femininity, building a more ...

This time, our street style shoot took place in Central, where historic landmarks stand side by side with towering commercial buildings. Amidst the bustling streets, we sought out well-dressed individuals to document the fashion choices of today’s youth. During the shoot, we encountered twin sisters, Lisa and Licca, who are also local 3D artists. Though their facial features are strikingly similar, their fashion styles diverge, making them perfect for a street style feature. Licca opted for a light blue, semi-sheer knit top paired with knee-length denim shorts and Trainer Shoes. Her overall look exuded a laid-back, Americana vibe. On the other hand, Lisa leaned toward a more feminine and fashionable route, choosing a black mesh jacket, white shorts, and sleek black leathe...

In the corners of the city, two young men create with their paintbrushes, crafting works that wander between reality and fantasy. They are the creative duo FAF. Heco and Jum’s collaborative work is mainly focused on colorful and vibrant illustrations of women, drawing inspiration from pop music to fashion culture. We had the chance to talk with FAF and dive into their creative lives. In their creative process, Heco and Jum each have their strengths and are each other’s solid support. Heco’s brush gives FAF’s works their soul, while Jum handles social media management, production execution, and product design. “Every theme we create starts with a joint discussion before we begin implementing it.” Though they have distinct roles, they always start each project together from...

In an era brimming with creativity and self-expression, wig design is no longer exclusive to cosplay enthusiasts but has steadily integrated into the fashion world, becoming an essential element for showcasing individuality. A pioneer in this trend, AKI, has transformed her passion for wigs from cosplay into original designs. Today, we get a glimpse into the inspiration and journey of this wig designer. “I first encountered wigs in 2004 when I met a group of like-minded friends through the anime community. We started cosplaying together, and that’s when I bought my first wig,” she recalls the moment of initial inspiration. From cutting her first wig by hand, her journey has undergone multiple transformations. Initially focused on replicating iconic hairstyles from anime characters, AKI...

Tooth jewelry dates back to ancient times, with various civilizations having customs of adorning teeth. In recent years, it has surged in popularity in the West as a symbol of fashion, becoming a new form of stylish self-expression. Tooth jewelry is not just an accessory to enhance your look, but also a statement of personality and attitude. Local tooth jewelry shop @thesparkle.hkg, with two years of dedication and boundless creativity, has brought this unique aesthetic to Hong Kong, offering young people a fresh way to express themselves. We had the pleasure of speaking with the shop owner, Miu, who shared insights into the journey of creating tooth jewelry. The young owner, Miu, recalls the early days of starting the shop. She noticed that tooth jewelry had been trendy overseas for y...