Teacher by day, fashion designer by night Wilson Choi defies any labeling.
The founder and designer of Redemptive, whose clothes are seen on celebrities and in fashion magazines, is more interested in doing whatever makes him happy than what others think of him.
This attitude goes all the way back to his school days. "I was definitely not one of those obedient or outstanding students. In fact, I was more of a troublemaker," he said.
"But everyone is unique and actually being labeled rebellious might push you to go further. We all have the desire to grow; it's just how we present it."
Choi's interest in fashion design built up gradually. In secondary school, he learned photography, graphic design, and videography. In form four, he won the fashion design contest and found designing interesting since then.
"That was the first piece of clothing I've ever made, and I remembered the theme was something about local culture, my little old brain used a red-white-blue bag as the inspiration," he said.
A few years later, he studied fashion design at Nottingham Trent University. His interest was in fashion and technology.
"The graduation show was themed around veterans. I designed inflatable tops that inflated into cushion-like shapes that can be used to support the bodies of wounded veterans."
His designs leaned toward functionality, and to Choi, it is all about being unconventional and doing what he thinks is right and what he believes in.
After completing his education in the UK, he gained valuable experience living and working in both Hong Kong and Germany.
"Many people told me not to create a brand right after I graduated, they were not optimistic about it and even said it would be a disaster," he recalled.
Ever the rebel, Choi forged his own path into the fashion industry. His innovative approach is noteworthy for its blend of creativity, cultural influences, and an understanding of human expression - positioning him as a rising star in the industry.
He focuses on innovative bonding materials and performance-focused fabrics, aiming to promote awareness and positivity toward social, cultural, and environmental issues. Each garment narrates its own story, with silhouettes that exude courage and inspire wearers to break boundaries.
The brand garnered industry recognition at the Paris Fashion Week 2019 after being selected as one of the Tranol x Not Just a Label 10 Take Ten in the emerging menswear category.
Additionally, it was the only Hong Kong-based brand to reach the final for the Yu Prize Creative Award at Shanghai Fashion Week 2021.
Being a fashion designer is not his only pursuit. He also works as a part-time teacher at a local school.
"Children these days are very expressive, and they always have new ideas," he said. "To many of them, I'm not a normal teacher, so often, I'm pretty close with my students, and I would say we learn from each other."
The rebellious spirit of teenagers, known for their desire to grow, experience, and express themselves, has always been a part of Choi's design inspirations.
But designing chic clothing comes with restless nights. "To be honest, my sketches are usually very ugly to start with. As you know, inspiration sometimes just hits you, and so I'll usually randomly draw it then refine it," he said.
In order to cope with stress, Choi revealed that he does chores to prevent burnout.
"A therapeutic way to get heavy subjects off my shoulders for a while," he said. "And after vacuuming or doing the laundry, I'll go back to work."
He gets his inspiration from all over the place. For example, sculptures by Florian Pugnaire and David Raffini served as the inspiration for the autumn/winter collection.
"Since I draw inspiration from many sources, I want to make my clothes more versatile," he said.
Just as there are multiple ways to approach things, "I have created pieces that are versatile, allowing for untying and layering, and bags that can function as a hood or a hat."
Despite the brand's impressive achievements, Choi maintains a simple aspiration for its future. "I used to rush to release clothing lines in the past, but looking back, I found that approach discouraging. While awards and certifications are nice additions for the brand, Redemptive, at its core, is about my own happiness."
(The Standard, Weekend Glitz)
