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FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEW WITH GLUSH/ DESIGNER: GRACE CHAN

3/17/2016

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I first was introduced to Grace Chen's lifestyle blog LUSH and Glush/ handbag line two years ago. I loved the funky style of her line, making her ‘Grassy’ bags not only a trademark but also a classic in her collection. Grace decided to make the now trademark ‘Grassy’ collection after lying on the grass on a European trip and decided she’d like to always take a piece of that memory with her.

I finally got the chance to meet with Grace in person whilst taking a trip to Hong Kong as we meet at the Simple Life Café in The Landmark. Initially it was to simply chat about her handbag line, and lifestyle blog, but I ended up getting a deep insight into her view of the fashion industry in Hong Kong as well as the sad demolition of Hong Kong's famed Yen Chow Street Hawker Bazaar after 40 years of business. 
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Hi Grace, Can you tell me more about how you got started in the fashion industry? Have you always been a lover of fashion?
 
I studied fashion and I’m into fashion in that sense but I don’t follow trends. That’s why I decided to create something different with Glush/
 
I decided to do handbags, because my family manufactures them. I didn’t ask them to support me, as they do big quantities so I found a friend who became my partner, so we could grow together.  I have an advantage of producing small quantities as well. Touch wood, so far it’s been a good few years and I’m trying to expand the collection.
 
The 'Grassy' collection will continue as I’m still growing it (the collection), but creating more silhouettes. I’m also creating more ready to wear, focusing on different kinds of materials instead of just plain leather and canvas.

​Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration mainly from nature, my trips, like the one I took to the States, I was inspired by Yellow Stone, so that’s how I merged the color and the natural ragged stone on the collection. It looks illusionary but it’s from nature.  It’s quite surreal.
 
I’m half Hong Kong Chinese and spent some of my childhood here.  I love the fashion in Hong Kong and feel it's pretty ahead when it comes to many things, including fashion. How would you describe the style of women in Hong Kong?
 
In the general sense it’s a very trend following city. There are just a small set of people who are willing to try new things, people who don’t follow Korean trends. I had a pop up store for one year. It's so interesting to see the products they came in and touched. Like tourists always go for the grass and think it’s so cool and want to take it to their friends. But locals always want the functional practical pieces, aesthetic comes second. It’s a very big difference.
 
What kind of customer is a Glush/ customer?
 
My major customer group is very daring and fun. I was in the pop up store that whole year so I got to see all the customers. All the tourists always want to talk to the designer, but the locals don’t want to talk. Tourists will even bring wine over and stay for two hours! Locals don’t connect as well. Or they don’t have these questions.  It was fun talking to the tourist. Each tourist was from different countries so saw it differently, they translating it differently. Even though everywhere has grass. They also get excited about the next collection and brainstorm while they talk to me!


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I read one of your favorite stores is Heaven Please which one of your friends owns. Are most of your friends in fashion?
 
With my educational background a lot of them are still in fashion some have emerged into other business whilst others went hard core, like interning with McQueen, fashion sketch book, everyone has their own direction. I’m really happy to see that my schoolmates have evolved into something different.
 
My friend of Heaven Please actually went to my school but not in the same year. I just got chatting to her when I was shopping.  She owed the store so I asked if she would like to sell my bags.  She said sure, just stock them there and see how it goes.
 
There were some others I met after studying, like a friend who now owns Créature de Keis. He already had a store and wanted to open one together, so we did. I wouldn’t have done it by myself. The rent is quite crazy and for my target, the usage of my shop was just to understand my target audience so it was just a one-year investment. It was really fun. Once all my friends knew that I had a shop there they would pop by for coffee or a drink. Sometimes we would drink late at night. It was a good year to reunite with some friend I hadn't seen for a long time.

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Heaven Please : Hong Kong. 

​What are some of your other favorite stores in HK?
 
I shop a lot online, but when I buy in store it would be from my friend Créature de Keis. I admire him, he started off with nothing, he didn’t study fashion, he was a hairdresser and liked art and realized he loved fashion and started from scratch. Taking a very traditional shanghainese tailoring class and started off with very traditional study. His style is very structured, paneling, constructed and reconstructed.
 
There is a Fabric Market in Hong Kong that we would all go to, like a market under a tin roof and a lot of the sellers would sell really nice fabric but in small quantities.  Créature de Keis has been making affordable couture using their fabric. They supported him with good discounts so he is now supporting them as they are closing down (after the release of this interview, sadly the fabric market was demolished). He is trying to get more people to support them and get to know about it. Quite a lot of local magazines have been covering their closing down story. It’s definitely worth people knowing about their story. A lot of generations have been there selling fabrics. 
 
He doesn’t do mass quantities; he’s been doing it for 10 years. He has some cool clients, different age ranges from 15-70. It’s amazing. I’ve been in his shop and seen it. It’s nice to know people in the industry.
 
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Hong Kong designer: Créature de Keis

How would you describe your own personal style?
 
Silhouette wise I’m more classic, it’s more practical. Smart casual. You never know what's going to happen in the day so its better to be dressed more sensibly. I often wear flats.

You have your own handbag line, with really unique designs. Have you always loved handbags in particular?
 
I never really have to buy a lot of handbags as I always had samples because of my family. My dad would always say this handbag is worth this much, with marketing, the material. I go out and calculate that when I buy for myself. What is the material like, etc.  Also I make my own and it’s more fun to know the process now that I am in the business, but for shoes, I am a big fan of anything classic with a twist, so shoes are a different story! I also don’t know how they are made, I know its complicated, its almost like an architect class for shoes. I’ll support it by buying it. I have a weak point for really high heels but not platforms, a very feminine silhouette. And lace up flats.
 
Your parents have been in the business for over thirty years. Did you grown up in a very fashion forward household?
 
It felt more like a business. For my family background it was the clients providing their design. Each one had their own identity. They weren’t really focused on following the trends. I learn that each brand had their own core DNA so they couldn’t change that just for one month. If they change too much they lose their customer. It’s a quality they have to meet. Maybe that’s why I don’t focus on trends.  I mean that’s a more long lasting style. People then expect that from you. I’d get invited to places because they like my eye so it’s important to stick to that. You can incorporate new styles but not change too much. 

 Why did you choose the name Glush/?
 
I really like the word lush, it doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s an impression, if you think something is lush, a coffee could be lush. I used the ‘G’ for Grace, it’s my kind of lush.
 
Do you have any plans to expand Glush/?
 
Slowly expanding the brand, trying to solidify everything- I don’t want to just jump here and there. Next collection will be a new grass collection. There will be new colors for the grass and will also be expanding the brand with other bags.
 
Where is Glush/ available?
 
Online, in HK, there is a shop Searching C, it’s a Taiwan bookstore in TST, a few select stores in Beijing, and soon in Shanghai, it's gonna be shipped very soon.
 
Do you have any plans to store Glush/ in more international stores?
 
I slowly want to expand out to Europe. I want to take baby steps to approach the market out there. Traditional trade fares aren’t doing that great, for small brands like mine, it’s really hard to participate in every trade fare, they don’t place orders that day. It takes time. We will focus more on Asia at the moment, then Europe and the States.
 
You seem to be more focused on long-term fashion as opposed to fast fashion, do you think that is a true statement?
 
Yes, although some see the collection as fast fashion but I’m looking more at growth in that, it’s a niche market but I’m looking at focusing on growing that market.

Do you think we will eventually change the way we buy to look at more timeless and well-made pieces as opposed to so much fast fashion?
 
Yea, definitely you can already see it happening with Everlane cashmere cardigans, for the price it’s justified. I think people are now looking for the quality but not forgoing the fun part of it. I also think people want to know more about the products they are buying.
 
I’d like to take my brand into a sustainable brand but it takes time. Each and every step counts. I wouldn’t say I am at the moment, but that’s the goal, long term and we are working on it from the sourcing side and the manufacturing and even the packaging, it has to be 100% sustainable. For this small scale, everything takes a lot of time and money to be on that level. I believe it can be done it just takes a bit of time to source responsible venders. There’s a lot of companies that say they are but they aren’t, so I’m trying to dig into that and study that and see the real sustainable sources. People are willing to pay more if they know it’s a real sustainable brand.
 
I would like to link it to a charity but I want to know where that money is going. I would rather partner up with a smaller charity where I know where the money is going, but to do that I need to learn more and it takes time.
 
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Popular brand: Everlane. 

When starting up Glush/ did you always know that you would make all your products in Hong Kong / China or did you also look at other places?
 
Right now the printing is made in Hong Kong, the manufacture and assembling happens in China.
 
The other line I’m thinking about is sourcing sustainable leather and vegetable dyed leather and other sustainable materials
 
How was the process of starting up Glush/ for you? Finding the right manufacturer for instance?
 
I started off with my families’ sample room in HK. So it was easier for me to check the stuff there. But as they were really busy I went to find another manufacturer who would deal with my small quantity. I found one that was HK owned and the owner was a similar age to me, so it was perfect. It took a year to move to that factory. It was a nice learning curve to be totally independent. Starting was easy, keeping it going is harder. For press it’s always the newer stuff that gets the most attention and after 6 months it’s like what’s next? I had a feeling I milked out everything I could do with the Grassy collection so thought should I move forward to something else, a lot of people felt it was a hit at that time. That’s when I decided to open the pop up shop to understand what the customer wanted. That’s also when I started up the second line, more of a traditional line, but still a funky design.

The second line, is marble printing all stone print. The printing is done in HK with a friend, he is a really skilled screen printer and he is doing digital printing right now. I am lucky to have friends like that. 
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Glush/ Holdall 

​How was the reaction been to the brand? Do you have some regular customers that you have got to know?
 
Yea It’s funny to see, I have a live chat on the website and people shoot you random questions. It’s interesting to see what people are looking for. A lot of people are looking for gift items. I offer free personal writing on card. It adds value to the brand. I have a lot of customers from Taiwan and I don’t know if it’s the culture that they are grateful but they send me really nice message and some of them have become friends, and they send me gifts! 
 
What has been the biggest hurdle for you with starting up Glush/?
 
I think it’s multi-tasking, I’m lucky to be in HK as it’s convenient. You can run around a lot in two hours but at the same time that’s not a good point as you can wear yourself out easily. You don’t have to plan ahead. So it’s multi tasking. I don’t ask for help easily so... I need to learn to slow down. That’s a personal thing with me.
 
What has been your biggest achievement with Glush/?
 
I’ve met a lot of friends; It’s a platform to share. The shop was also an accomplishment. Every other day random friends would come by, so it was that experience. Also turning customers into friends. When it was raining friends would come by and bring cheese and wine and stay there while it rained. I’m not a 9-5 person. It might be because I used to be in PR and events so I’m not the sort of person that can be stuck in an office. I like to be out and meet people and share ideas.
 
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Glush/ Backpack

You are also the founder of Lush Magazine, can you tell me more about it, and when you launched?
 
I started 5 years ago. Just for for fun. More emotional sharing that then turned into a website. It started from the word ‘Lush’. It used to be a pure appreciation of whatever I would see. Then it turned more fashion focused but then I realized I wasn’t really into fashion-fashion. So then it evolved more. For instance when I travelled to Bangkok I went with a different focus, to see the local brands and craftsmanship. I like to talk to them and learn how they made the product and why. From an artist point of view, why they made that sculpture for instance. I also have some good friends who let me contribute to their magazines as a writer. It’s a new area as I don’t have a background in art but I understand how things work.  I focus more on the craft, whether it is artwork or fashion.

You are also a contributing writer for Piperline Art Magazine, how did this come about? 
 
It’s my friend, who is the co-founder of the magazine. She is an art snob! We had a trip together to France, that’s how we chatted and brain stormed. She was looking for a new perspective on art. She has a very critical view on art, but wanted more of a general view on art. There aren’t many places you can visit art in HK. It’s a cultural thing. A lot of people don’t think of galleries as an activity. Maybe it's because the rent is so high. The ones that are on the ground floor on Hollywood Road, their work is really heavy. It’s almost like a pressure to go in and look. We are so used to loud noises and cold air.

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PIPERLINE Magazine 

How has the reaction to bloggers been in HK?
 
In china there are some, Singapore. Malaysia and Thailand, but in terms of HK the city is really small, so HK is a bit behind in that sense. And the language is really difficult too. People tend to be more comfortable reading Chinese and they also like a lot of pictures, not reading so much. There are quite a lot of new bloggers coming up though. For traditional press it’s very similar style of writing. What’s happening in Milan and Paris? People also do like that it’s instant.
 
Who is your strongest influence when it comes to fashion?
 
My mum was always into classic styles. She was a working mum. She has now retired after working for the longest time, so it’s interesting to see how her style has changed. She wears a lot less blazers, which I wear a lot of and now she wears soft fabrics. I usually wear woven fabrics but now I’m thinking of maybe wearing soft fabrics so I guess my mum is an influence.
 
You are running both Glush/ and Lush Magazine simultaneously. How do you manage to balance both and schedule your time?
 
I mainly focus on Glush/ and 30% on Lush. I’ve felt more of a pressure to update Lush but I’ve now learnt to priorities more. I just share now what’s cool. Not having a definite timeline.  I just share genuine stuff. There has been a struggle but now I priorities.
 
What are your favorite things about living in Hong Kong?
 
Convenience, I love and hate it. There is a large variety of things you can see. You just have to dig into it. Rent is high but it’s a good way for people to work from home, or have a store online. You discover stuff and learn stuff everyday. Also the people, some people come here for vacation and end up staying here. You get to meet interesting people.
 
When you travel, what are some of your travel essentials?
 
My bag samples, at least three pieces, you never know! Makeup, the basics. A good lipstick and balm in one, name cards.
 
Any tips for staying stylish and comfortable when traveling?
 
It depends if it is a vacation or the city. For city, wear lace up flats, you never know!.. And if you go shopping you don’t feel like you are wearing trainers. If it’s a road trip I’d say a sun hat and leggings, yoga pants, good for everyday.
 
Who are some of your favorite designers?
 
Balmain, the craft of it, its not everyday pieces but I appreciate the thinking process of it. It’s not far from the inspiration. A lot of designers take 10 steps away from their inspiration and it becomes very minimalist but the inspiration is very linked.
 
You see their standpoint and their brand identity season after season. Some brands, they want to change to give freshness. They have a stamp but can see the difference each season. You can see the styling is harmonies.  Everything goes together very well.
 
Are you influenced by styles and trends you see on your travels?
 
Every city has its aesthetic, like Shoreditch in London, and HK, that’s how I relate to places, each small neighborhood to each different place. I don’t know if it’s a business point of view, but that’s where I position myself when I travel. 
 
What is a typical outfit for you during the day and what do you wear for a night out in HK?
 
If it's for just drinks with friends, or dinner, a less formal night out, I would just change my handbag, add a necklace. If it’s a more formal, I would change into a pencil skirt.
 
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? Where would you like to see Glush/ and Lush Magazine?
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I would like to see myself collaborating with more inspiring creative people and travel more!

​Click for more information on:  Glush/ handbags 
 Lush Lifestyle blog
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TALES FROM A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR - TINA CHENG

3/14/2016

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I first met Tina Cheng about 4 years ago through mutual friends when I was living in Taiwan working on a movie project. I was introduced to her at a fairly significant birthday of hers, despite the fact she doesn’t look much over the age of 25.
 
She was such a fun and light personality it wasn’t until later I found out just what an accomplished and incredible businesswoman she is. We’ve met plenty of times since then but this was the first time I took the opportunity to interview her on her impressive career.
 
Today we are meeting for lunch and an interview at Marmalade in The Grove to discuss her incredible career story, including starting a club at the age of 22, turning a $65 million dollar profit on a company she took on as CEO in Taiwan, her latest position as COO the amazing jewelry company Coordinates and to starting her new endeavor, a postnatal care hotel for women. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat, Tina! Let’s start at the top, you primarily grew up in America, is that right?
 
Yes, I came here when I was 12, so I consider myself bi-cultural. I went back to Taiwan every two years.
 
What did you major in at university?
 
Structural engineering! My dad is a developer and hoped I would join the family business. A good brain exercise but not useful now! Math was one of my favorite subjects. I went on to USC Marshall School of Business. I really enjoyed it. It felt like it was what I should of studied in the beginning. I like the smaller size of the school, good classmates many of which I stay in touch with. Before moving back to Taiwan, I was always a serial entrepreneur. 

What made you go back to Taiwan?
 
I wanted my daughter to learn Chinese and be near her dad. I also got hired when I was in Taiwan to start up an internet company. I was the first person there and hired everyone. I loved it. It was a great experience. The person that hired me, it started by us talking about a deal together, but it didn’t happen but he wanted me to set up the company for him and that’s how it happened!
 
You obviously have very strong business acumen. What was your passion growing up, and did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur / in business?
 
I think so, I was really influenced by my father who was an entrepreneur. It was very instinctive. I’d go into a restaurant and look at the décor and analyze why one restaurant had so many customers and another one didn’t. I owned a nightclub in Pasadena called Muse, as I was out one night and thought about how much money we spent there and thought this must be a great business! I always look at it from a consumer’s perspective. I was only 22 at the time.
 
It was the easiest money making opportunity of my life. I was lucky the first entrepreneurial experience was so successful. The company brought me in as a managing partner. After I joined, I tripled their profit. I owned that club for eight years. It was my most successful venture. After that making money took more work! The club is still going on though. There is Muse in Shanghai, the biggest club in Shanghai, right on the bund.
 
I left because I had my daughter. It was fun for that phase of my life but decided to sell it after I had my daughter, as I wasn’t in that life stage anymore.
 
What was your experience living in Taiwan as an adult, having spent so many years in the U.S?
 
I thought I would adapt very easily, but living there and running a business there, I realized I was a lot more Americanized growing up. There was a lot of cultural difference that I didn’t realize I’d feel.
 
Being a CEO of any company is tough. What was it like working at JigoCity? Do you think being a woman in that position made the job harder?
 
I felt more sexism in the US than Taiwan; in Taiwan it was more age discrimination.  I felt like people didn’t respect me as much as I was young. But if you look at the startups in US they are all young, but in Taiwan all the successful people were in their 80's.
 
I felt respected by the people I had hired. I hired a team of millennials as well as seasoned managers. The older people especially were trained to respect people in higher positions.  I also think it is about attitude; you have to set that attitude and establish authority. You really have to establish that very early on. I learnt a lot, I wasn’t in the Internet world before and also working in Asia, so it was a very valuable experience.
 
I always knew I wanted to come back to the US though and it was a sabbatical experience. That was also how they explained the job position to me, grow fast and then sell it, so the end was always in mind.  We ended up selling to a publicly listed company for $65 million (USD). After the acquisition I stayed on for two years as the CEO. That was very different because after that we were a subsidiary of a public company as opposed to a startup. As a private company I spent my time in operations, as a public company it was financing and reporting. I preferred it when it was private as I’m really more of a grass roots kind of person.
 
You are a single mom, but always seem to balance your work life and being a hands on and wonderful mom. How do you manage to work this balance out so well?
 
For me the key is prioritizing what you value, also quality time not quantity when you don’t have the luxury of time. You have to focus on the quality time and creating experiences.
 
I do think as a single mom, I demand those positions to be able to spend time with my daughter when I need to. That comes with being an entrepreneur and in a leadership position.
 
In Taiwan most of my friends have their nannies take their kids to their classes. But for me, I always go to my daughters art class, I was a reading parent, I’d go to class early before work to be with her. I also miss days of work to go on her field trips.  I got to where I am so I can have other people work for me while I spend time with my daughter. I encourage women to do that, so they can have that choice.
 
Some people have said, "Why don’t you have your assistant go and do that for your child?" I said "No I ask my assistant to work so I can be with my daughter!"
 
I do think women feel a lot of guilt, and society puts a lot of guilt on women. But I pride myself on spending good quality time with her. But I don’t think it should be that way, (to feel that guilt) We have to fight that pressure. So I don’t feel guilty. I’m totally immune to that as I know how far it is from the truth.
 
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I do think women feel a lot of guilt, and society puts a lot of guilt on women. But I pride myself on spending good quality time with her. But I don’t think it should be that way, (to feel that guilt) We have to fight that pressure. So I don’t feel guilty. I’m totally immune to that as I know how far it is from the truth.

​How do you feel the American working structure differs from the Taiwan way of doing things and do you have a preference for either?
 
In Taiwan it’s more about face time. Time spent at work as opposed to progress. How early you go and how late you leave. The US is more about the progress and result you have. In Taiwan you are never supposed to leave before your boss. So If I left after 7pm, they would get antsy and come in and ask to leave but would be apologetic.
 
I do prefer the US way though. Although in Taiwan people would come in on Saturday if I needed them to. In the US they were like screw you! (laughing)

They are harder working but it’s not really more efficient. I did have to force my marketing manager in Taiwan to take a vacation as they work so much that it isn’t efficient.
 
You moved back to the US a year or so ago, how was the transition moving back?
 
Price tags, (laughing). Obviously the health insurance is night and day difference in terms of quality and care. I can walk into a doctor’s office at 8pm and see a doctor for $5. If I try and get an appointment in the US sometimes its 6-8 weeks later.
 
Truly the biggest difference is the risk appetite. In the US people don’t mind taking that risk, sometimes starting up a company and knowing for the first year you will burn money, but the reward could be really high. In Taiwan they would never do that.  That business culture doesn’t exist. It’s more short-term thinking and they only look for immediate results. For JigoCity people would ask in the beginning how much we were making and I told them we were budgeted to lose money for two years. People thought we were crazy and wondered why we would ever do that. But we sold the company for $65 million USD. There isn’t that mergers and acquisitions culture in Taiwan so we were almost required to turn a profit.
 
People would rather own a small business and turn over small profit than take the risk. They are so risk averse. In Taiwan I realized it was even in the education for the kids. It’s built into the culture.
 
What are the main things you miss about living in Taiwan?
 
The food and quality of service is really unparalleled. Food and service in Taiwan is really quite advanced. People in Taiwan are also very friendly.
 
Do you ever see yourself moving back to Taiwan or is the U.S your home now?
 
I don’t think so, especially at my daughters age I want her to grow up here and learn to be an entrepreneur. I found this incubator school in West Chester. They are expected to start a business in 8th grade and graduate realizing it. Their website is set up like a business website.
 
​You began working for Coordinates Collection as their COO when you moved back to LA, how did this position come about?
 
Randomly. I came back, I didn’t work in the startup world before I left, so I didn’t have any connections so I did a random search for COO positions on Linkedin and this happened to pop up. I thought the company was very interesting. I heard about them from a friend who had done their IT. I messaged them and later interviewed for them and ended up getting it. It was my first interview. I loved the concept and thought it had potential. They started the company 6 months before I joined and I have been with them for one and a half year. They turned over $3.3 Million USD last year.
 
The company seems really unique, creating coordinates of special places for its customers. It’s a great idea! Can you tell me more about the company?  
 
The company started of a subscription company, with new jewelry each month. The Coordinate’s was one of them and it sold out every month so they saw the potential. 


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Coordinates silver bracelet range. 

How was it transitioning into the fashion industry? Did you enjoy it?
 
I never thought I’d be in fashion. It was really cool to learn about the industry and as a woman who loves fashion I didn’t think it would be that hard. I understand it. Also I have started up companies that I didn’t have experience in so I thought it would be good. I learnt about the world of fashion bloggers and it was fascinating. We worked with Chiara (Ferrgani). We did a collaboration with her. From that we gained a lot of followers. I now want to turn my daughter in to a blogger (laughing)
 
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Chiara Ferrgani wearing Coordinates Collection 

What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learnt since taking on this position?
 
Branding. Branding was not something I had expertise in, now I really understand branding and the personality of that. Driving engagement, creating loyalty.  I redid the entire brand. I felt like it didn’t really have a personality. The first project I did was revamp it and make it aspirational, hired a creative director with another agency. It also had to be organic and at the same time authentic.  
 
It also all has to be cohesive across all mediums, like Instagram and the site had to be consistent. The brand voice was very important.
 
My style changed, it elevated my personal style. It also had a lot to do the world of fashion bloggers and seeing what was trending. I try different proportions that are new to me and of course now accessories. Now I’m like more is more!
 
Had you ever had an interest in working in the fashion and jewelry industry before 
this position came about?
 

No, I grew up so in the engineering world.  I always thought it looked too fun to be a job! There is tons of money in it. But no, I was not one of those girls who grew up wanting to be in fashion.
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Coordinates Collection 

I know that you are making another move this month, this time taking on an entrepreneur endeavor, opening up a postnatal maternity retreat dedicated to postnatal wellness, such a fantastic idea! Can you tell me more about this? Is it something you have wanted to do for a while?
 
I’m ready to embark on a new adventure. I launched the largest postnatal retreat in Taiwan previously. I launched it for my dad. It was my idea, but my dad is a developer and he had built a hotel 30 years ago. It has been vacant for 12 years so he wanted to renovate it into a boutique hotel. I had stayed in a postnatal place myself. Again coming from a consumer perspective, I thought it was a genius idea so I told my dad and we converted the hotel in to a postnatal center in Taiwan with 60 rooms.
 
So it's not new to me but I am passionate about bringing this to the western culture. There is such a lack of postnatal care in the US, almost every culture you are supposed to take special rest but somehow in the modern culture that has been lost. We are now expected to bounce back to shape, go back to work and I think this is a lot of the reason for postpartum depression.  People here spend so much money on prenatal care but once the baby is here and your body is depleted, this is when you need the most care. After C-sections why are people dieting and squeezing into jeans? It’s a major surgery. They are doing dishes and looking after the baby. It’s too much.
 
Will this mean a big location move for you, or will you be opening it up locally?
 
Locally, I’m looking at the west side, Malibu way. I want it to be a good retreat. It will be like a hotel that they check into after they check out of hospital. Women are encouraged to stay 3-4 weeks to properly recover, bond with the baby, nurses to help. Also I want to extend the concept to women with children under one, so anyone can check in for the weekend. That way, women can get some good sleep, go to the beach and have nurses. Not everyone can have nanny’s and live in care so they can rest and go back refreshed. There really isn’t another option if you don’t have a nanny. There are no overnight babysitters. You can obviously see your children whenever you want, but you can just have time to rest.
 
How far a long are you with the set up of the company?
 
I’ve just started. I have put in my resignation, as it’s a full-time job just to start it up. I’ve done this before so I know what I need to do. I need to find a hotel, the right location. I also need to raise a lot of investment. It’s going to be about 5-7 Million USD. I will be there everyday, it will be a very hands on process. I feel like it will take 6-8 months to get off the ground, that’s what I’m planning on.
 
And finally, where would you like to see your new company and yourself five years from now?
 
I would like to have multiple locations for the postnatal care hotel, a couple of centers in LA, one in east side one on the west side, Orange County and also bring the concept to San Fran and NY. LA is my hometown, stability for my daughter growing up, so LA is where I consider spending an extended period of time, I’d also love to move to Malibu.
 
During our interview which took place one Saturday afternoon over lunch, Tina brought her young daughter along with the her daughters friend. The two children were incredibly well behaved during our hour long chat and I saw Tina first hand in action, perfectly balancing being a hands on mom and juggling her business. At one point during the interview, Tina went from talking about a $65 million dollar turn over, and then quickly, having had one eye on her daughter, lovingly told her to finish her veggies, to which her daughter obligingly does. An inspirational woman indeed.

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INTERVIEW WITH HONG KONG DIRECTOR BARBARA WONG - 黃真真

3/10/2016

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Hong Kong Director: Barbara Wong, (黃真真 - Chun-Chun Wong)

​I first meet Hong Kong director Barbara Wong (黃真真) at the Kodak House in Hong Kong. As I walk in I get shown to the back of the long office where Barbara is mid photoshoot. She turns to greet me warmly, “Stacy?” She says, “So great to meet you” as she shakes my hand. She just needs a minute to finish off the last of her promotional shoot for the day. I go back to wait in the conference office and 5 minutes later Barbara enters. She is wearing some skyscraper platform heals, a modern Chipow dress, finished off with awesome makeup, big eyelashes and that famous short blonde hair. A force of energy, friendly but most definitely in charge, I can see why she has done so well. Her team is just as gracious, offering their chirpy hellos despite the long day they’ve all had. I am the last stop on her day of promotions, having started at 10am and not stopping all day.
 
We sit down at the end of the boardroom table as I chat to Barbara about her incredible life so far including her experience in New York, losing one million dollars before even making her first movie, and never giving up on what you love…
 
You’ve had such an incredible life already but I’d love to start from early on in your life. I know you went to Performing Arts school in Hong Kong right after secondary school; Did you start out thinking you would like to be an actor?
 
Yes. Originally, when I was in primary and secondary school I was very much into acting so I applied for the Academy of Performing Arts (APA) and studied acting, but after three years I felt it was very limiting. APA had arranged different interviews with TV stations, HK Repertory Theatre and commercial radio. There was a TV show that was offering children’s hosting show, which didn’t appeal, then there was theatre but because of my height I was always playing teenagers. They all liked me, so I had a choice and I chose the radio station.
 
After working at the radio station, you went to The US to study at NYU. When did you decide that you wanted to be a director? Was there a moment, director, or movie that inspired you?
 
I went to NYU and when I started the course I did a directing course, and everyday felt so happy in Washington Square Park. I’d never felt so happy before. After I studied film I felt like my life was very full and I found a passion for myself. It was at that time at NYU I knew I wanted to be a director. Before that I was still exploring.

I heard in an interview you told a great story about you trying to get a script to Robert De Niro. As you didn’t have an agent you couldn’t get anyone to read it, so you went and sat outside near Tribeca to wait for him. I know this must have been a really hard and frustrating time, how did you keep going when you felt like you weren’t getting anywhere?
 
I'm always trying to find a way to solve a problem and I read that was how Quentin Tarantino had done it when he started! I failed but I am optimistic, sometimes too optimistic. 
 
I did think ‘Am I really talented or am I just dreaming?’ I also had to sustain on the minimum at that time. 


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Do you miss New York?
 
Very much, in the past when I didn't have so many chances to make films I would usually go back once a year.  I think it’s the greatest city in the world.
 
How do you think your time in New York has affected your style as a director?
 
In NY there is no right or wrong, it’s about creativity. Every time I am stuck with a script, I try and remember my time in NY and think out of the box. I do think it has shaped me. The word ‘dream’…I think everyone has met a lot of people to fulfill the dream (in NY). Not every city has that. The whole city is filled with dreams and energy. 

What are the subjects that most intrigue you as a director?
 
Humanity, human nature is what I love to explore. Whether comedy or tragedy or romance or like this time (The Secret- 消失爱人) as a thriller. I think that is why someone is watching a film. To see the humanity.
 

 
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Barbara Wong's latest movie, The Secret- 消失爱人
 
Is being a director what you thought it would be like while you were studying?
 
No, I think when I was studying it was just learning about how to make a film technically, but no matter how many classes you have about investment, you have to be in the real world to understand the experience. A big part of being a director, is not just talent but if you have leadership, if people can trust you. Being a director is different to being a writer. As a writer, you can close your door, get drunk! As a director it's quite schizophrenic, you have to be rational but creative, protect the budget and think outside of the box. Acting is like a license to be crazy. Directing, you can’t be too businesslike as you lose the art but you have to have balance. Luckily I’m a Libra! But it is quite challenging.
 
As well as directing you are also a writer, do you enjoy the writing process?
 
I enjoy it, but writing is not an easy process and sometimes very lonely, sometimes you feel very insecure, thinking I can’t figure this out. But I found if I don’t write my own script, it's not very smooth. 80% of the problems are solved if I write it myself. If there is any accident like it rains, and I don’t need rain in the scene, I can easily change it, because I wrote it.
 
The product is more original. On the other hand I do feel like I should use other peoples scripts. I have tried, I keep trying. Step by step, or maybe I haven’t met the right script. 

For your movie ‘Girls’ you had your friends improvise scenes, and then based the script on that, what was that process like for you and how did you come up with that way of approaching the dialogue?
 
I think because I was an acting student, I found improvisation so important. They aren’t acting they are reacting. It’s spontaneous, so I love it so much. And for the actors if it’s the first time working with me, they find it so tough. This scene is me and you fighting, we don’t need a script. So sometimes I put the script away. So often the actors feel insecure, they feel it’s too loose, but later on when they have a taste they like it and then they see the footage (and realize why it works).
 
Every film I improvise, not every scene but every movie. I don’t like them to rehearse together before the movie. I have my first AD go over lines with the actors, but not together. It is important they go over the lines, so I satisfy them for them to work on their lines. I know they need to because they may need to change a word here or there, but it’s for technical reasons.
 
Also after three takes it's useless. It’s just acting. I shoot it, but it’s useless. I don’t do masters, over the shoulder; I just capture what I need. For lighting, I have a stand-in for actors. The actors then come in, go from one point of the set to another so they know where they have to go, but I don’t have them go over lines, I just let them know what space they have. The actors love it.
 
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Barbara Wong's movie: Girls

​I love that, so much freedom for the actors! Going back to your days in New York. You wanted to be a director there but trusted a friend and ended up owing $1 million on bad stocks and you hadn’t even made a movie yet. That must have been an awful time. Did this make you want to go back to Hong Kong or taint your memory of NY in anyway?
 
I had two options, to file for bankruptcy and move to HK or stay and work and I chose to stay. I worked as a bartender and other jobs and saved money.
 
My boyfriend at the time had a camera and worked for freelance news, and one of my friends suggested I just make a film by myself, I asked my classmates to help with the production and I acted in it. After I made the film, my boyfriend and I at the time were breaking up so I decided to come back to HK. It was really tough in New York as well, and so I felt it was time to come back to HK but there was no regret.

You really were incredibly brave and took a chance and decided to use the last $60,000 credit on your credit card to fund your next project, was it a big decision to do that?
 
I had no choice at that time. If I did not use that part of the money, the other path was bankruptcy so it was just two paths to choose. After I make a decision I will do my best to make the decision work. I also already had debt, if I had $8 of debt or if it is $6, it doesn’t matter. It’s still debt.
 
In a good way you can say I have the energy to sustain, you can also say I’m really stubborn! I won’t accept it. A lot of people when they lose, its not because they are less talented, it’s because they gave up. If they did it for another three years they could have been Ang Lee.
 
Today I took a taxi and the driver knew John Woo, he was a nobody he said, a PA who got lucky. It’s interesting right? I think persistence is sometimes the most important thing.
 
It really doesn’t make you feel good when you aren’t successful; it really makes you feel like shit! I had many years of that. So being stubborn is good. But I have to say having those ups and downs gave me a lot of courage. If I didn’t have that past, I wouldn’t be so relaxed. My movie comes out the 25th but I’m relaxed about it. Of course I hope it does well, but if it doesn’t I’ll make another one. 

Do you think you would ever move back to NY?
 
Who knows? It’s possible. I joke with the press that I might go to Bollywood. Don’t you think that’s  (Bollywood's) interesting? So ask me if I'd go to NY, very possible! I wouldn’t drop everything, but life takes us to places we wouldn’t expect. I didn’t know I would make movies in China; I have my office there now, my apartment there.
 
Your first documentary was Women’s Private Parts. What was it that made you want to do this documentary?
 
When I was in NYU my classmates would ask me, "What is it like in China, do women have to walk behind men?" I would say, "What are you talking about?!" So I felt like actually foreigners don’t understand the Chinese. After being in NY 6 years, I was surprised to see how different women were in Hong Kong whilst I was away. They talked about sexuality and didn’t need a man. I was thinking the documentary was going to be for foreigners, but it didn’t turn out that way. During interviews of Women’s Private Parts, I had no chance to turn the cameras off; when women had the chance to talk about love and sex they wouldn’t stop! I made it in 1999 so they didn’t have a lot of chance to express themselves, now it’s different.


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The Documentary was incredibly successful, as your first project that must have felt amazing!
 
It went to some film festivals, the documentary got into a lot of countries so I got to go to a lot of places, like Hawaii. When an international audience saw it, they felt the same way. I was asking them "Would you go to a gigolo?" They said yes! "Would you sleep with them?",  They said, "Well, if they were clean!" It wasn’t too far fetched to what real people would do, it was very honest.
 
The success happened quite quickly and you got the NY Independents, Best International Film. Did you think it would do so well?
 
Without my calculation it brought a lot of things to me. It was considered a very wild documentary so it brought a lot of attention to me. People kept saying I was really smart that I did something to make me stand out. Although it did really well, it was originally meant to go in a different direction.
 
There’s a lot of talk in LA in the Hollywood film industry about how much harder it is for women in the industry to get as far as men, but you have previously said you don’t think that to be the case, at least in HK. Do you think HK is different perhaps than America?
 
I don’t feel that it’s harder. I feel its 50/50 industry. I think actually that women have more roles in their lives. It is very different for men. I am still single, and not married. Luckily I am not interested at the moment. I wouldn’t have been able to have made so many films. As women we have so many missions.
 
I have two Jokes, one is my husband is so busy he hasn’t been back for dinner for a whole week, which is accepted, if it was a women they would wonder what she was doing!
 
Another is, if a women cries on set, she’s so weak, she can’t handle it, she should go home. If it’s a man it’s different. He’s sensitive etc..
 
I don’t think it’s discrimination, men and women are different. With directors we work till 2am, brain storm in the middle of the night. Sometimes I have to go away for four months, how can I do that when I have a child who is seven years old? Who is going to take care of the kid? I personally feel that this is more of the problem. I think this is more of the problem than the glass ceiling.

 
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Having trained as an actor, do you think this has made you a better director to help understand your actors?
 
Very much. I can communicate with them so well and they feel so comfortable with me, and I give them the respect they deserve. I know the pressure they feel. Two hours of makeup, learning lines, and waiting in the makeup room, waiting, and waiting and outside is over 100 people working. After two hours someone comes in and says “OK we’re ready”. They then have to concentrate, they come out 100 people surrounding them “OK, action”. I have been an actress, I know. They have to execute, they have to deliver. Someone has spent so much time getting the lighting ready, and what if they can't deliver? So I give them a lot of time, a lot of understanding. If I’m a director and I yell at you, how can you do it better?
 
It’s been such an exciting time for Chinese cinema lately with more co-productions happening. Do you have any upcoming plans for a co-production or any other projects you can talk about that you are currently working on?
 
I would like to do a co-production; I think it would be a very good direction. Hollywood movies have reached such a professional and deep level technically. But the west also wants some inspiration. So I think working with the east, we can work together and it’s a win-win situation. That’s why I moved to China, and established my movie production company Real Films.
 
It’s not mature but that’s why its exciting. The studios in the States they are very careful what movies they choose, so there is no creativity.
 
This is my 13th film, so I understand box office, it's not something you can control. But I can control making a film I don’t regret. It will live longer than me. I feel so lucky I can make movies; I have a mission to make good movies.
 
Veering away from movies for a moment, you have fantastic fashion. Is fashion something you have always been interested in?
 
Doing the press for my latest movie, some of the press just asked me, "Why have you not changed your style since you started directing? Shouldn’t you wear a suit now?" I said "No it’s more important to be myself!" No matter what I do, I’m a woman and want to be the woman I want to be.
 
Do you think about costuming when you are making a movie? Are you a very visual person?
 
Yes, very visual. I’m always very involved in art direction and work closely with the stylist. I do a lot of research and look for references to share with them. The film can look very different depending on what style you choose, 10 different styles could be used with the same script.
 
How would you describe your own personal style?
 
More rock in the past, from NY black leather, the chains. Today I had to do a magazine shoot so I’m wearing a chipow. I like to play.
 
Any favorite designers?

I like, D&G. I like Philip Lim, a lot. I like fun stuff. I don’t follow certain brands.
 
 
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Who inspires you, personally and professionally?
 
Ang Lee. He is amazing, in the way that he is Chinese but can make Brokeback Mountain and totally capture it. He is a true artist.
 
What would be your ideal project to work on, if budget wasn’t an issue?
 
I am currently working on a sci-fi project, that is humanity based. I hope that it will be done soon, that’s a bigger budget. I don’t think too far ahead, try to take each step by step.


Barbara Wong’s new film The Secret - 消失爱人 is out now.
 
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