LOOM LOOP x LACMA

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The party of the Hong Kong social calendar is upon us...and I don't have anything to wear. That's the situation I found myself in 24 hours before the LACMA Art Basel Hong Kong 2019 party. Usually I don't stress upon such things but I was playing the after party so it was important to be on theme. The theme being Traditional Dress or Adventurer.

Luckily my friend Claudia Carpentier who was being dressed by a local brand organised for me to also be dressed by them. And wouldn't luck have it, the brand was part of the eco fashion movement! Score!

Loom Loop, made in Hong Kong and driven to preserve the 300 year old Canton silk tradition is the brainchild of Polly Ho and Andy Wong. Using left over fabrics and the Canton silk technique, they merge the contemporary with traditional cuts and craftsmanship that produce stunning, unique pieces.

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To dye the silk it uses a plant based dye, river mud and solar power. It is eco-friendly, though the process painstaking it transforms the delicate and fragile silk into something with more substance that can withstand the test of time.

When you think 'Asian textile industry' the first thoughts are large industrial warehouses churning out, cheap'n'fast fashion. Sustainability is last on that word list, so it's so wonderful to see that Hong Kong has a movement that is bringing about change. The surrounding streets are still filled with the literal hole in the wall clothes shops, where old Chinese ladies sit among piles of discarded clothing, deceivingly labelled as 'samples' and selling for less than HK$50. But as the eco-movement grows and people are educated on the exact procedure of their garments, hopefully these spaces will be a thing of the past.

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I had a hard time choosing an outift. They were all so pretty and photogenic. But the 'traditional' aspect of the theme steered me towards the cheongsam/qipao with clashing green print. It was figure hugging, comfortable and matched my boots perfectly.

I really fell in love with this brand, not just it's story but the uniqueness of the patterns. Their shop is located in the prestigious PMQ building in Central, Hong Kong. Be sure to check them out and support local brands! Especially ones who are committed to sustainable practices AND preserving ancient techniques that very soon will be lost...

LOOM LOOP // Studio S205, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong
@loomloopfashion