As the designer behind local boyband Mirror’s stage costumes, Rickyy Wong has garnered attention in recent years for his highly coveted garments amongst local artists. The Hong Kong-born designer has also been selected as one of this year's CENTRESTAGE EMERGING DESIGNERS. After completing a fashion master's degree program in Tokyo, Wong established his eponymous brand, RICKYYWONG, which focuses on interweaving Eastern culture with Western tailoring to create practical and fashionable designs. An advocate of the "Ethically made in Hong Kong'' concept, the brand aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable fashion through using organic and environmentally friendly materials in its designs.

1. How would you describe your style as a designer? Can you share what inspired your designs for the new season?

My brand focuses on craftsmanship and culture; designs that are imbued with futuristic, technological elements and a sense of network aim to celebrate our heritage and incorporate my passion for gaming— a part of me that I tend to conceal. The design inspiration behind the Spring/Summer 2024 menswear collection is the transient beauty of dawn, especially the transformative moment that takes place at five in the morning. It explores the process by which the night sky gradually yields to daylight, delving into the fascinating experience this magical moment unlocks.

2. What inspired you to establish your eponymous brand RICKYYWONG? How have your past and current experiences in design enlightened you?

Initially, I founded RICKYYWONG in hopes to establish a benign ecology with fellow local and overseas designers, extract inspiration from the minute details of life, as well as to rediscover forgotten crafts, traditions and folk culture. These thoughts all stemmed from past experiences. 

3. Your brand emphasises that it is “Ethically made in Hong Kong”. What are your views on sustainable fashion and how do you incorporate sustainability into your brand?

Considering sustainability is the responsibility of a designer, apart from using sustainable materials in our designs, we must also educate consumers on the importance of sustainability. I tend to use a fair amount of sustainable materials in our designs, and am constantly updating and deepening our understanding on these matters.

4. The theme of this year's CENTERSTAGE is "RADIANT WELLNESS". What is your understanding of the connection between fashion and the human body, mind and soul?

To me, there is an intimate connection between fashion and our body, mind, and soul, as I believe that an article of clothing can contain a lot of stories and sentimental value, which can bring comfort to the wearer. This also happens to be one of the inspirations behind the new season’s designs. 

5. How has Hong Kong inspired your creations? How do you incorporate Hong Kong’s unique culture into your designs?

Hong Kong is a city of diversity, so even the details that we take for granted in daily life can serve to generate inspiration, such as the old-style tenement houses, the quintessential Hong Kong architecture, and even the long-established fishing villages. I usually incorporate such elements into my design, and I especially like to add Western-style tailoring to clothing details, which reflects the duality of Hong Kong that equally embraces East and West.

6. What future plans do you have for the brand?

For our development, we are planning to open more pop-ups to give local customers more exposure to our brand. We hope that more people can learn about local designs.