Hong Kong’s poetic coexistence of old and new in such an extreme manner makes it an exciting and unique city. Unlike Seoul, Hong Kong’s new apartments shoot out from nowhere co-mingling with the old ones. Like lush trees, they spring up tall and fast filling any gap in this densely built city. There’s construction on almost every corner, and the old cultures mixing with the new to create something magical. From luxurious modern malls to knock-off street markets, it seems to me Hong Kong’s consumerism surpasses that of many western cities like New York City.
In the news this week many people witnessed an issue at the Cannes Film Festival when some women in their 50’s wearing flats were declined entry to the red carpet. The irony of it all is that the women were attending the screening of a pro-LGBT romance ‘Carol’ featuring Cate Blanchett. It’s even more ironic seeing how ‘efforts’ were made to include more female producers in this year’s festival.
When it comes to innovation and technology, South Korea leads the world with name brands like Samsung, LG and Hyundai, all known for their unique design and superior quality. The Korean Wave since the 1990’s has brought new light and impact in western countries for the quality of Korean craftsmanship and culture. Despite this, there are many challenges that top Korean designers like Choi Bo Ko, Rich Kim, and Lee Sang Bong have to face. The negative stigma of inferiority associated with made in Asian as in many ways impeded the growth of Asian brands.
