Nana: Fashion has infinite possibilities, and new power is born from it. As a carrier of culture and times, fashion encompasses everything. From trendy to traditional culture, from celebrities, idols to everyone’s daily life, and from West to East, it is our discourse, our power, our time. Through Asian Voice, we hope to spread the local Asian fashion culture to the world by moving cross languages and borders.
In this issue of ASIAN VOICE, we welcome INTIQUE, an innovative fashion brand hailing from Hong Kong. Angie Wong, the founder of INTIQUE, fueled by a wealth of brand new and creative ideas, finds her creative freedom actualized through INTIQUE. The brand’s expertise lies in seamlessly blending contemporary trends with timeless designs, embodying an aesthetic philosophy that caters to customers seeking enduring appeal in their wardrobes. With its classic simplicity and youthful designs, INTIQUE provides a comprehensive and personalized fashion choice for those who embrace it.
Nana: Why and what inspired you start your own brand, and name it “INTIQUE” initially?
Angie: I was part of the Product Development team of ATSURO TAYAMA and Buying team of MOUSSY, from which I came up with numerous ideas in developing and managing a brand. But there are always some contraints and you just can’t do whatever you want. That’s when I decided to start my own brand which I could be relatively free to develop and implement all my ideas.
“INTIQUE“ is a combination of “IN season“ and “anTIQUE“. I wish to infuse vintage elements into the ever-changing fashion trends so that the clothes we bring to our customers are long-lasting which they can actually wear for seasons.
Nana: How would you describe the aesthetic philosophy behind INTIQUE?
Angie: As mentioned, we wish to present the beauty of the old and the new through the sparks created when mixing vintage and the latest trends.
Nana: What do you imagine a woman wearing INTIQUE to be like in your mind?
Angie: We value the importance of our size specification as we wish to highlight the body silhouette of our customers. I would imagine an INTIQUE woman to be a self-loving lady who is confident in her body.
Nana: How do you come up with the collection every time? And if it’s possible, could you please share us a little bit about your next collection?
Angie: We do trend research and arrange overseas trips with our designers to discover the latest trend and technology in colors, fabrics, silhouette, etc. This is how we get inspirations for our theme boards of each season.
The upcoming FW23 collection will be something referenced to sports. It will be about flex-leisure, outdoor-proof layering, winter sports, outdoor utility, as well as some of our signature elements.
Nana: Is there any fashion trend in Hong Kong that you are interested in, and what is your vision on Hong Kong fashion scene in the future?
Angie: I think the utility trend has been one of the most prominent trends in Hong Kong in recent years. Although we have been known to our fans for our feminine style, we are trying to include outdoor / workwear elements in our upcoming FW23 collection. Of course it won’t be a total shift in style – we will just add the fabrics and details of the utility trend and present the collection in the INTIQUE’s way.
Hong Kong was the leader in textile manufacturing and clothing industry in East Asia back in 1960s. Sadly the leading position has been taken over by other countries like Japan and South Korea. I hope more and more young Hong Kong designers and brands will join the industry and together bring Hong Kong back to the spotlight.
Nana: Are there any challenges and difficulties that you would like to share with us during the process of running your brand?
Angie: There are actually many, but I would say the biggest challenge is finding the right balance in everything you do, such as personal style vs commercial value, price vs good value for money (in customer’s perspective), benefits of employee vs benefits of the company, administration vs operation. The list could go on and on but what I’m trying to say is it’s always difficult to achieve a win-win situation, but this is exactly what matters the most when you’re trying to take the brand to the next level.
Nana: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in starting their own business in the fashion industry just like you?
Angie: Trial and error – cliché but true. Never stop trying and don’t be afraid of failure. Each failure means a learning opportunity and one step closer to success.
Trial and error, cliché but true.
