The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), in conjunction with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, presented four designer collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia on May 4. Here, Hong-Kong based designer Harrison Wong offers his final diary entry on the week that was.
12:30 - Finally got some rest and woke up so late! I got most of my preparations done yesterday so I could treat myself to more sleep. Today at 4:00pm is the big day and the fashion show for the Hong Kong designers! All I need to do now is show up two hours before the show starts. I grab a last chance to go to the Sydney fish market. I am such an oyster lover, how can I miss the opportunity to have those fresh and cheap Sydney oysters? I go for the king prawns and lots of oysters. Delish with just a sprinkling of wine! Again I am reminded of great seafood in Hong Kong, this time in Saikung where you choose fish in the market and then your restaurant of choice fixes it. But I must say this Sydney treat is fabulous!
14:30 - I am now off to the show at the Oversea Passengers Terminal with a lot of seafood under my belt. I arrive and the ten models are already there in full make up and hair done. But as always there is a little last minute fitting to do!
16:00 - The Hong Kong designer group show starts! My collection is first on the runway. This moment is alway a mixture of excitement and nerves. The music begins - an old Cultural Revolutionary song. The audience looks confused. The first model comes out and then they all understand that my theme is contemporary riff on the Red Guard style of the 1960s and 1970s in China. I hope that that everyone enjoyed the show. I can now sit back, relax and enjoy the work of the other great Hong Kong designers.
18:00 - A few after-show interviews then it is time to kick back with a couple of well-earned drinks before packing my collection back at the hotel. I think the show was successful; the house was full and the feedback from the media and public was super. This, as always, is a group effort and I would like to thank Peter and Toni from HKTDC in Sydney for all the wonderful organizing and arrangements. I don't know what we would have done without them! A big thanks also to Allen from HKTDC Hong Kong for bringing us here. Well done to all!!
22:00 - All packed and now hungry again. A friend of mine has highly recommended a restaurant at Bridge Road. Luckily I can just make it for the final serving. Evidently the Bridge Room has only been opened half a year and the food is indeed great. I always forget that restaurants can close up before midnight. At some places in Hong Kong, like in Mongkok and TST, you can eat until 4am. But this is indeed a great way to say a culinary goodbye to Sydney. Tomorrow it is back to Hong Kong. Goodbye Sydney! What a wonderful experience!