Some people follow fashion. Sarah Fung does it full circle. The London-born, Hong Kong-based founder of pre-loved luxury destination HULA has spent her career on many sides of the industry: designing it, selling it, and now, rescuing it. Fung ran her own London labels before a nine-year stint at Lane Crawford brought her back to vibrant Hong Kong and its most fashionable haunts. But it was the waste she witnessed during the fast-fashion boom that pushed her to act.
A decade ago, she launched HULA, a marketplace supplied mainly by industry insiders, and their luxury and designer pieces sitting unused in their small Hong Kong apartments. Hermes, Chanel, Vuitton and Balenciaga, she has it all. This means sellers profit, buyers score designer pieces at huge discounts and fashion breathes easier. Today, HULA has grown from a single warehouse to a hip Soho Hollywood Road boutique and a huge space in the eastern area of Quarry Bay, with a loyal community of the city’s fashion lovers. Here the fashion pioneer talks about her favourite spots in her Hong Kong neighbourhoods, Bangkok and
Favourite HK bars to take your out-of-town friends to?
Ping Pong in Sai Ying Pun, it has a great HK vibe, and sleazy feel walking down that basement with the red lights.. the best selection of gins!
Local neighbourhood gem?
Pandan Man (I love pandan cake as its so fluffy!)and a local bakery called MCake on Queens Road West makes these ‘melt in your mouth’ eggy sponge cakes that are to die for. Easy convince myself that it’s ‘healthy’ as it is packed with protein.
How would you define Hong Kong style?
HK is one of the most fashionable places in the world and we are so lucky to be here collecting from all these amazing wardrobes! People here are extremely into fashion – they want the newest trends, and shopping is a serious sport. It’s refined and high-end, but it can also have street-edge, even if it is manufactured.
Favourite restaurants in your local HK neighbourhood?
Majestic Sichuan (my favourite hangout with the girls), Samsen (the best Thai), Yardbird (Cool New York style Japanese izakaya), and Zuma or Duddell’s if I am feeling boojie for a bubble brunch.
What’s cool and different about the two HULA stores in HK?
We recently launched a new flagship store in Quarry Bay which we rebranded as HUB – it’s a huge space; a concept store-like experience with thousands of curated pieces, where customers can spend hours browsing and find amazing gems. It has a self-serve drinks station and is where we host various events from HUB Club where we have a DJ spin whilst you shop, or listen to styling talks etc. We give customers their own racks on wheels – like a super-market trolley, which is a novelty but very practical!
Whilst our Soho store in Central is a small boutique and acts as our ‘marketing window’ where we gain most of our first-time clients and where we might convert some people into shopping pre-owned for the very first time. This store is for easy pick-up, trendy items when customers may only have a short time to shop and where we display our most coveted eye candy items like Chanel bags. We have just renovated too.
When you started HULA in 2016, Hong Kong wasn’t really big on pre-owned luxury. How did you convince people to change their minds?
Coming from London, buying secondhand was the norm for me, but I found out that in Hong Kong and in much of Asia that it wasn’t popular due to superstition: the belief that other people’s spirits can rub off onto the new owner (making wearing pre-owned items unlucky) and it was only reserved for people who couldn’t afford to shop. I have been in a lot of talks and panel discussions about the benefits of pre-owned shopping whilst spreading the news about the determinants fashion and textiles production has on the planet.
We once created an event called ‘Get Lucky’. The concept was to dispel this myth; so if you think you can get bad luck from wearing other people’s clothing then why can’t you get good luck? Here we featured influencer wardrobes. When we launched our warehouse space and hosted lots of events here – we physically built a community. To see these stylish women shop – it was clear the mindset changed, especially in the past 4 years; and amongst younger generations who prefer pre-owned to new. This has enabled growth.
Apart from your own store, where do you shop in HK?
A friend runs Beauregards at Hong Kong’s Rosewood Hotel – amazing curated fashion and accessories in beautiful space, Muji for practical stuff, useful tools and snacks.
Five spots would you take visitors to Hong Kong?
The iconic Star Ferry crossing from Hong Kong side to Tsim Sha Tsui, also the China Club, Madame Fu restaurant and bar in Tai Kwun and of course, HULA!
Favourite stores in the world?
Dover St Market, Selfridges, 10 Corso Como, Tokyo Hands (now renamed Hands), Alfie’s Antiques Market.
Best three cities in Asia for style and why?
Seoul for its K-pop vibes and local designers – they have really carved themselves a name for owning their own style, Bangkok as it is so international, is so creative and it is a melting pot of cultures and styles and of course Hong Kong, because people here simply love shopping and fashion – those who can are well travelled and have the means to shop all over the world. As Hong Kong is a small region and you tend to bump into the same crowd at events they prefer to wear something that not everyone else is wearing or can get.
Tell me about your favourite spots in Bangkok?
For F&B: Somsak in China town, El Willy Spanish, Cento Italian restaurant. I really like Dib Bangkok, the new art museum that just opened, and 333 Gallery, a small gallery run by a friend. You can also find me hanging out at the Soho House pool in the city.
Spa, health or wellness routine you swear by?
For a decade I have been drinking lemon hot water as my morning ritual – its the only Vitamin C I need and I rarely get colds. Its the best way to start the day!
Where do you go for creative energy?
London. You can’t beat all the galleries, art and music
Where do you go for pure escapism?
Tokyo – it’s got that Lost In Translation, ‘I can be anyone’ vibe.
Travel splurge you’ll never regret?
A Lora Piana cashmere two piece I love to wear – perfect for long haul.
Favourite hotel in the world?
The Six Senses, Lamu, Maldives
What’s always your carry-on?
An umbrella – I am British after all
Dream destination, not yet fulfilled?
Safari in Tanzania or desert-luxe in AlUla, Saudi Arabia.
