The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), in conjunction with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, will present four designer collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia on May 4. Here, Hong-Kong based designer Harrison Wong takes us through his third day in Sydney, which included a slew of media interviews.
9:30 - And I thought that yesterday was busy! The four Hong Kong designers, Chailie Ho, DoDo Leung, Hei Lau and I, sat together for back to back phone interviews with SBS National Radio, 2ac Australian Chinese Radio and finally the China Radio Network. Can you believe that all the interviews were in Cantonese? I wonder if Chinese is now the second language of Australia? It is great to be getting all of this positive attention!
11:00 - Still more newspaper and magazine interviews including Chinese papers like the Sing Tao and Australian Chinese Daily as well as mainstream press like The Australian Financial Review. Throughout it all I have to juggle the fact that models are coming and going for fittings for the big show. Then I realise that the photo journalists are really interested in what I am doing with the models. I wonder which is more interesting, my clothes or these very professional models? And now more interviews! This is really hectic, but great!
15:00 - Finally I can squeeze out 30 minutes for a quick bite to eat. This calls for fast food. Just around the corner from the Hong Kong House is a shop called Pie Face. I am sure everyone in Sydney must know about these pies with funny faces on them. Hmm, not bad! But the funny face might be the best part. Fast food in Hong Kong is more likely to be something like Wonton soup noodles. Some of these quick food places are even recommended now by Michelin Guide. Check them out if you go to Hong Kong.
15:30 - I rush back to the Hong Kong House for yet another interview, this time with a fashion blogger and online magazine, Waiwai. I think I will miss all of this good attention when I get back to Hong Kong. I'll soak it in while I can!
17:00 - I am looking at the huge stack of photos I have taken during the last two days of the models in the outfits for the show. Finally I think have have selected which models will go best with the various outfits. And now for the most effective runway sequencing to make sure the clothes changes can be made in time as well. Excitement for the big show is really setting in now as I can really visualize how things will unfold.
18:00 - HKTDC has taken such great care of us and now they are hosting us to dinner at the Darling Harbour, a beautiful quay full of super looking fine restaurants. Wooo... the Wagyu steak is delish and more of that great Australian wine. It seems like I always think of Hong Kong when I am eating great food in great surroundings like this. The beautiful Sydney harbour makes me think of our striking waterfront in Hong Kong. The view and food reminds me of the Intercontinental Hotel in Hong Kong where you can have great steak in one restaurant or even 2 Michelin star dining at Spoon by Alain Decasse. I wonder if Sydney and Hong Kong are twin cities? They should be!