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Meet four Asian design stars who are writing the next chapter of their families’ legacies

- KISSA CASTANEDA

BAEA

HONG KONG

Born in Hong Kong to a family who have worked in the design industry for more than three generations, Adah Chan was exposed to exquisite craftsmanship from a young age. Her grandfather Poon Yan Chan ran a textile manufacturing company, and her mother Christine Chan evolved the family business into retail in 1985, opening the Bed & Bath luxury housewares brand, which has a boutique at Prince’s Building.

Growing up, Chan always loved visiting factories, calling them “places where the magic happens”.

“I’ve always been really fascinated by how things are made. The most interesting aspect for me is how design becomes a product.” The founder of bedding and homeware brand Baea, she spent her 20s sourcing linens in Asia and Europe for the likes of Ralph Lauren Home, then left the industry for a while to dabble in food and hospitality. Baea was a homecoming of sorts, both to the trade and to Hong Kong, where she moved permanently from Canada in April 2020. “I’ve realised how cool it is to start a company in something you grew up in. The foundation is laid, and I know the product well, so I’m more confident on how to bring it to the next level,” says Chan.

The name Baea is inspired by her childhood home between Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay, and also alludes the company’s pursuit of sustainability. She and her partner, Catherine Reeves, spent more than a year choosing the best organic fabrics. “It’s very important, as the fabric is the canvas which we build the design around,” says Chan.