Jason Wu’s Hong Kong Travel Diary
“Hong Kong is one of my favorite places in the world,” says fashion designer Jason Wu, who recently celebrated his 10th year in the industry. Mr. Wu, who was born in Taiwan, has been to international cities many times in his life. “It’s only an hour-and-a-half flight from Taiwan, so I’ve been going there since I was a kid,” he said. “For me, it’s a place full of childhood memories.”
Although Wu visits Hong Kong once a year (twice if he’s lucky), last November he found himself in the metropolis for work. While speaking at a forum, Wu was also preparing to shoot his pre-fall collection for Gray Jason Wu. Fortunately for Wu, the rest of his team also happened to be in town at the time, so they decided to film there. “It was really difficult to shoot outdoors in New York in November,” Wu said. “But Hong Kong has always been known for its pleasant climate: it’s not that cold there. Since we’re all in the city, we thought, why not start now?”
Much of the collection debuting this week was shot at outdoor street markets in Hong Kong. “It felt very fitting because a lot of what gray is about is everyday clothing,” Wu explained. “I love seeing these clothes in real life, especially because I grew up in these food markets. It’s still a very important way for people in Hong Kong to shop today. It’s not really a grocery store culture.”
But apart from filming, food is also the theme of Wu Guanzhong’s entire itinerary. When asked what he liked most about the visit, Wu simply replied, “Food. Indeed.” Wu is a big fan of bubble tea, which he describes as one of his childhood comfort foods. But it’s far from the only thing he eats in town. “Culturally,” Ng explains, “Chinese food is dominant in Hong Kong. But there are many different types. Between street vendors, humble restaurants and hot new venues, everyone has something to offer.”