Hong Kong is Harbour City
November 6, 2008Aaah Hong Kong, the fragrant Harbour . . . repository of freedom and free trade . . . there is no finer collection of high quality merchandise, food and leisure on earth. It has every imaginable persuasion on earth, to suit every budget, but we aren’t her today on some discount shopping exercise, nor are we on a venture to live the highlife and spend every last penny on all the things we don’t need. This is our adventure. This is our special trip and we are going to just look at some shops, not all as the time simply won’t permit. But we surely will see everything we need to see at the Harbour City shopping complex right on Canton Road.
Hong Kong started out as an escape from the mainland’s grip, whether it was Kublai Khan or some other emperor’s rule, and provided some form of escape from what was probably perceived as an attempt to curb or get in the way of one’s independent pursuits. Being nothing more than a muddy swamp of different citizens from the kingdom, it grew slowly as a trading post being right on the water. As the Western World slowly made headway into the Middle Kingdom, Hong Kong grew as a major disembarkation point and the economy grew.
The Harbour City shopping mall is attached to the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel through a series of connecting pedestrian paths and escalators within the hotel with an option to0 enter right along busy Canton road, as they appear to be one continuous structure. From the Harbour City shopping mall onto the Gateway Arcade and then the Ocean Terminal, we are really looking at a row of malls set one after the other. In here you will find literally every imaginable icon of high fashion. From Dior to Gucci, Lanvin and Bally, Valentino and Ferragamo, why, even Louis Vuitton has opened the largest shop in the Asia Pacific Region with its front door right along Canton Road. If one were to gaze into the front door, you would see a video wall, oozing with melting gold slowly trickling down the screen like syrup flowing or maybe an even more vivid image is golden magma, flowing down this wall while the doorman, specifically chosen to provide a menacing air of security on this outlet, responds to all who gawk with a smile.
As we walk the low ceilinged halls, shoulder to shoulder with what must be most of the city, we realize that you can tell once you’ve crossed over into another mall because the feel changes. Whereas at the Harbour City you walk through the marvelous Lane Crawford department store, and G.O.D. access is via a wide avenue of paths looking out onto Hong Kong Harbour on your west; the next zone Ocean Terminal is filled with more varied choices aside from the FACES outlets of various different major brands of beautifying opportunities and the gargantuan Toys R Us at the KidX floor. The Gateway arcade at its northernmost end offers a little more eye candy in its concentration and profusion of signature shops, some of which we will be encountering for the first time, and, of course, the four state of the art cinemas.
We chose to look at just some of the more interesting outlets that are, for us anyway, interesting in the sense that it would be our first opportunity to see the retail shops of these brands outside of their home shores. Some of the more interesting shops are those born in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. Over at the Ocean Terminal, there are a slew of different shops more known in their shores than here. Interestingly, the shops showcase more casual wear targeted primarily for a much younger market. Spanning 7 blocks along Canton Road, we simply had to be selective with what we choose to shop around at.
Y3 is a collaboration of Japanese cult designer Yoji Yamamoto and Der Mark Mit der 3 Reimen, Adidas. Blending haute couture with sport, it’s mostly an exercise in white, when you enter their store at the 3rd level of the Ocean terminal showcasing the three stripes applied in a unique fashion, as a diagonal break from the clean lines or as a subtle accent on a back pocket Predominantly casual and chic with lines ranging from t shirts, to shoes and the stunning gold jacket shimmering in its metallic glory. This is a must see experience in its simplicity and the simple lines that the designs create.
Moussy, literally along the same row as Y3, pronounced, “mouse – see” caters to a very trendy kind of crowd with more risqué’ taste what with their superfluity in the use of leather and leatherette as well as zebra and other animal type prints set on pastel color shirts and skirts; from caps to shirt to shoes to accessories, a complete makeover is a real possibility. Drawing obvious inspiration from the punk rock and decadence of the 80’s scene, we enter and it is full of a young crowd. Conspicuously dressed in a mini skirt and t shirt, Peroxide blondes assist the shoppers who provide a continuous flow of customers, the lone cashier struggling to keep up with the volume of business being generated within. This is a Japanese response to sexiness and glamour and this is the dominating theme behind the dark denims. The loose fit shirts are in or so they say, as this is what reveals the “bodyline of the ever sophisticated”, but if you ask me the pumps are what makes the store here, simple down to earth and very wearable.
XPlus, by far is the largest shop on this 3rd level of Ocean terminal, opened in 2007 with a fresh new concept in lifestyle. Putting together different brands under one central location, there are over 40 different brands offering anything from clothes to shoes, tables and lamps, chairs and furniture, clocks and gizmos for the home. In and by itself it is a shopping center for the home and family. Choose from among different named brands to clothe yourself, Pepe Jeans and Thailand’s most famous clothing line, Greyhound. Gift items from “Ugly Dolls” to Sega Toys; Decorative pillows from Human Touch for that perfect gift item with a story or give a gift of towels shaped in different desserts, Tiramisu when we last checked. Pens and drink bottles, chairs and lifestyle furniture including clocks and lamps, watches and jewelry, trick or treat accessories. The list goes on. We spent so much time here that we literally had no chance to change for dinner.
Evisu, still at the third level of the Ocean Terminal, with its iconic double hump logo, generates images of the perfection of Mt. Fuji and clouds racing against a denim sky and of seagulls flying. The selvedge jean is not the jean but the fabric itself. Evisu starts out with a fabric that is woven out of special looms and provides a soft yet sturdy material that deserves this logo. The product line expands to shirts and bags, some of which we had in fact loved so much that we asked the Manager, where the designs for his outfit were, and he sheepishly replies “ . . oh no special edition, not yet available. . :” well what are the chances of that? Started in 1988 by Yamane san, he traveled far and wide to satisfy his connoisseur taste for specialty denim. Selvedge itself refers to end of a cloth that runs in on itself, but now refers to any expensive and exclusive denim, so inspired by this thought, an entire clothing and accessory line dedicated to the denim is what you can expect here.
One level down is Adidas NBA which in itself is a strangely named shop but this is the only place we found with an entire display and line committed to the Beijing Olympics. All models are available in any color as long as their black and white. Meant as a line to honor the athletes of the current Olympics, there are no sport models, whether in the games, in acting or in high fashion; no flashy ads just a display showcasing the different Olympic sports and the best shoes to go with it.
From here, we work our way north and enter into the Gateway straight up to the highest level to work our way down. Here the walkways are flanked on either side by elegant brass-like railings and a higher ceiling than the rest. No doubt to lend a feeling of space.
Walking into the Alessi which is
ALESSI SHOP
Shop 3230a, Gateway, Harbour City
KOWLOON HONG KONG - HONG KONG
Shop No. 3230 at the 3rd level of the Gateway Arcade is like walking into an art gallery. With a soft spot for Hong Kong because of its major designer Gary Chang, we feel we are entering more into a house of industrial design and although still possessing a uniquely Italian flavor, it emphasizes that many of its creations ( and not products ) have mass appeal in mind. Although the showcase Oficina Alessi as their top of line models exclusive and expensive, an ode to good taste.
Just a hop and skip away is Pylones and walking into this little shop is like entering a world locked in a profusion of psychedelic color. The little curios and gadgets are colored so brightly and lend a happy atmosphere to this French franchise. From little bottle openers to ball pens and clips, almost every household item is given a twist of flavor style and color that can brighten any day. A lot of people have said that it is the only place where you can buy anything you will never ever need, but who doesn’t need a bike bell or a dog leash. What about a mini refrigerator, don’t tell me you haven’t secretly sought one for yourself. Awash in all bright pastel shades, its like walking into a 70’s advertisement. The imaginative creations can stock one house of all its domestic gadgets and accessories.
Vintage 55 one level down glamorizes Steve McQueen who has probably done more to influence the macho image of the Hollywood screen idol in ways that John Wayne and Marlon Brando put together never could and Vintage 55 draws its inspiration from his movies and what he represents. Based in Milan, Italy’s center for fashion, with each item you could almost see yourself as Faye Dunaway or Steve himself in the original Thomas Crown Affair wearing their fashions, of turtle necks and knee high skirts and their aromatherapy line of t shirts to foil any unnatural scents from standing in the way. Sorry style is our excuse as their motto says
We are sneaker lovers and simply could not resist the Converse shop at the same level, with its mounted display of their new arrivals and Sale Items. A bright red wall holds up hundreds of styles to review. A sneaker is a sneaker some might say but Converse would have to be the sneaker of sneakers. Commemorating its 100th year this 2008, they enlisted artists worldwide to lend their mark on the shoe’s trademark design, the Chuck Taylor All-Star high cut. The ones who made the cut are the designs of Ginger Jones from the USA, Yuko Yabuki of Japan, Dennis Juan Ma of New Zealand and Supakitch of Juvignac, France. Their creations will be available starting this September.
And naturally all this walking certainly does build up an appetite, and all we had to do was follow our nose to the Canton Deli, bastion of old Hong Kong style Chinese cuisine. They weren’t kidding when they said unpretentious with its wood themed décor and plethora of old style bird cages, it was like stepping back in time to the 60’s. The real piece de resistance is the stunning harbor view while dining on traditional dishes like Cantonese Dim sum, classic Wanton noodles, all sorts of congee and all manner of sautéed wok prepared dishes. Their insistence on the use of the freshest ingredients has certainly augured well for them as the style is simple, straightforward and brings nostalgic memories evoking flavors from the past of a home style, generous and luscious cuisine.
I wish we had more space to talk about what else we saw of Hong Kong just here at the Harbour City complex. We never talked about the simplicity of a Baked Bun with Hong Kong Milk Tea at the Canton deli, nor touched on designer clothes and shops that chose the Harbour City as their showrooms. From the largest Louis Vuitton shop to the classiest Gucci outlet, the top of the line to clearance sales of everything else, putting their prices at par with the side street curio shops. It never occurred to us that indeed, what Canis Lee, Assistant General Manager said was true, there truly is something for everyone here.
