Spirit Of The City

After a lengthy hiatus, Vivienne Tam has debuted a new direction in her hometown. The godmother of Hong Kong fashion gives Gennady Oreshkin a peek into her mind, in which mythology and her personal philosophy meet to create a radically new vision for her first gender-fluid collection.

- Vivienne Tam

It’s taken about 20 minutes to escape the bustle and reach this oasis of nature, a tranquil haven pierced with spirituality. High in the hills of Lantau island and, according to Vivienne Tam, “the best place in Hong Kong”, Ngong Ping is where the designer has chosen to showcase her latest collection, City Camouflaged. A whirlwind of colour, prints and textures underscored by prominent utilitarian codes, the looks are in perfect harmony with the wooden monuments of the Wisdom Path, the trees, graffiti walls and even the interiors of the cable cars that brought us here.

An eclectic vision of idyllic Hong Kong, City Camouflaged is inspired by its landscapes, hiking trails, mountains and, of course, Ngong Ping’s Big Buddha. “I discovered the new Hong Kong, it’s so beautiful and amazing,” says Tam. “Within 15 to 20 minutes, you can go to amazing country parks like Shek O, Sai Kung and Lion Rock . . . Every time I look at the people, I want them to wear something from Vivienne Tam for both hiking and yoga.”

The designer’s new-found inspiration led her to Ngong Ping and the Big Buddha, which she decided was the only place where she could think of showcasing City Camouflaged. “This place can make your wishes come true. I met the Ngong Ping 360 people, who took me on the cable car. I enjoyed the scenery so much – you can see views of Hong Kong, the airport, the ZhuhaiMacau bridge, the country park, water and mountains. It’s magnificent – 20 to 25 minutes and I’m at the Buddha. It was like a pilgrimage,” she says.