Press Releases

2024

10/09

YDC 2024 winners revealed in grand style

Young designers showcase diverse and original fashion statements

Pictured from left to right are: Jonathan Lee, Co-founder of The Molecule; iemi Chu, Associate Publisher of Vogue Hong Kong; VIP Judge Masayuki Ino, founder and designer of doublet; Chief Judge Katherine Fang, Chairlady of the HKTDC Garment Advisory Committee; Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC; Victoria Tang-Owen, Director of Arts of Culture & Heritage for Shanghai Tang; Tracey Cheng, Vice President of Womenswear Merchandising at I.T; and Bohan Qiu, Founder and Director of BOH Project.

The Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest 2024 (YDC) concluded successfully on 7 September. After careful deliberation, the panel of professional judges selected four winners from the 10 shortlisted entries, with Tiger Chung (third from the right) emerging as Champion. Winner of the Excellence Award was K Ng (fourth from the left), while Yoyo Chan (fifth from the left) took two honours including the “My Favourite Collection” Award that was decided by public voting.

Champion
Designer: Tiger Chung
Design: “Rager”
The design: “Rage evolves from the moshing culture of hardcore punk, where the crowd reaches euphoria as an uncontrollable transcendence of state. What I aspire to explore through design is the unique style and trends of the new generation of designers.”

In his collection “Rager”, Tiger takes inspiration from Japanese anime series Dragon Ball and the character Son Goku, who transforms into a giant ape when angry, and the werewolf in Michael Jackson’s Thriller, who dances with zombies under a full moon. He also pays tribute to the rock singer Marilyn Manson’s style, mixing the structure of an evening dress with dungarees to combine the elegance of actress Marilyn Monroe with a darkerinspiration. Tailored to the violent nature of rage, Tiger’s four designs feature impact-resistant pads and abrasion-resistant materials for protection.

Prizes: (1) A cash prize of HK$60,000; (2) An overseas study trip sponsored by Fang Brothers Knitting Ltd; (3) HK$5,000 CASETiFY e-Gift Card and capsule collection for sale online and at CASETiFY STUDiO Hong Kong stores

Excellence Award
Designer: K Ng
Design: “Remnants of Light”
The design: “The designs initially appear to be glittering and elegant, but underneath the glamour he seeks to represent the darker side of the human condition and the fragility of the human mind.”

In his competing series “Remnants of Light,” K creates scenarios with details on fabric: the embroidery on the coat looks like fireworks, but actually symbolises the explosions of war. The piece is a luxurious floor-length coat, but as the wearer grips the straps and wraps themselves tightly underneath, they resemble a refugee.

Prizes: (1) A cash prize of HK$40,000; (2) An overseas study trip sponsored by MINI HK; (3) HK$3,000 CASETiFY e-Gift Card and capsule collection for sale online and at CASETiFY STUDiO Hong Kong stores

Best Art Direction Award and My Favourite Collection Award
Designer: Yoyo Chan
Design: “Trouble X”
The design: “At the age of two, we enter our first rebellious stage in life, and then are institutionalised. In a daze, we find ourselves marching to the beat of mainstream social expectations. Rebellion is always looming; once provoked, it erupts instantly."

Fashion designer Yoyo Chan is bored by the ordinary and wants to shatter expectations. Her “Trouble X” series breaks the stereotypical association of school uniforms by deconstructing the style, adding playful elements, and subverting expectations in the details. Highly saturated reds are interspersed with warm yellows, presenting a hot-blooded attitude and independent personality. As she frees the clothing from the rigidity of occasions, fashion design becomes an advocate for ageless rebellion.

Prizes for the “Best Art Direction” Award: (1) A cash prize of HK$30,000 sponsored by Vogue Hong Kong; (2) HK$2,000 CASETiFY e-Gift Card and capsule collection for sale online and at CASETiFY STUDiO Hong Kong stores

Prizes for the “My Favourite Collection” Award: (1) HK$20,000 Lee Gardens Area e-Gift Certificates sponsored by Hysan Development; (2) HK$2,000 CASETiFY e-Gift Card and capsule collection for sale online and at CASETiFY STUDiO Hong Kong stores

For the eighth consecutive year, MINI HK was the major sponsor of the YDC. This year, the brand collaborated with two YDC Alumni designers, Johnson Chong (YAMA GUEST) and Kinyan Lam (Kinyan Lam), to present a fashion collection inspired by its latest car models.

MINI x Johnson Chong (YAMA GUEST)
YAMA GUEST has collaborated with MINI Cooper, taking inspiration from its 2024 MINI Aceman model. The theme of the collaboration is “Urban Outdoor Traveler”, where a single garment can seamlessly transition between the city and nature, embodying MINI’s new design philosophy of “Simplicity, Purity”. The result is a collection that embodies urban fashion while meeting the demands of outdoor exploration and incorporating the design concepts of YAMA GUEST and the MINI Aceman. The apparel features wear-resistant, water-repellent and breathable materials, as well as adjustable details like the hood, front panel, and waistband for added functionality.

MINI x Kinyan Lam (Kinyan Lam)
For its collaboration with MINI Cooper, Kinyan Lam sought to capture the spirit of “Possibility”, “Adventurous”, and “Fashion” embodied by MINI drivers. To express their unique personalities, they want to customise their cars with different patterns. Lam took inspiration from a vintage MINI campaign featuring Mary Quant’s striped seat upholstery design, applying the iconic pattern, the classic stripe, as the central design motif for the collection. To achieve this design element, Lam incorporated his signature natural dyes with plants from India and indigo from Guizhou and employed a tie-dye technique to create the stripe patterns.

Theme: FORGE{T}

For the brand's inaugural collection, MURFI LAU endeavours to express bravery and self-defence through fashion design, showcasing a unique temperament. The theme "FORGE{T}" signifies her dedication to fashion design. Inspiration for the collection is drawn from medieval armour, heavy motorcycle gear and spacesuits, representing different aspects of the human spirit of adventure. Ms Lau aims to demonstrate the dual characteristics of protective gear and fashion, showcasing a spirit that remains true to itself in challenging times.