"That's where new ideas are tried and tested. Wherever I go on my travels I make sure I know what is being eaten by the ordinary people."
HK has designs on fashion
Renowned Hong Kong fashion designer Vivienne Tam believes the Chinese territory could become a global style powerhouse with a little help from business and government. Tam, who along with Sino-Irish designer John Rocha put the former British colony on the fashion map in the 1990s, called for the city's rich property developers to offer cash and internships to nurture local talent.
"A lot of the time [young designers] can't afford the rent -- if you are not an international brand it's hard to get a good location -- but landlords have so much money, it's time to give back to the community," Tam told the South China Morning Post.
Tam is in Hong Kong ahead of fashion week, the sprawling trade show where the couture world gathers to find Chinese sewing factories and manufacturers to put together their latest collections. The New York-based designer, who is credited with helping to introduce traditional Chinese flourishes to mainstream fashion, said it was vital for would-be designers to get first-hand industry experience.
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