
Fight climate change and look fabulous at the same time with inspiration from these sustainable fashion influencers in Hong Kong.
A little retail therapy, here and there, never killed anybody! But, according to the sustainability NGO Redress, Hong Kong generates an average of 392 tonnes of textile waste per day. Fear not, Hong Kong has a growing range of sustainable fashion, circular fashion, and vintage fashion for all your conscious consumption needs. Looking to get inspired? Follow these sustainable fashion influencers in Hong Kong that are transforming the industry.
Sustainable fashion influencers in Hong Kong
1. Louise Sin Yi Lau 劉倩怡
Founder of the streetwear brand, Psy Lau, Louise won the Redress Design Award 2021 Hong Kong Best prize for her ADHD collection. The winning collection was inspired by her own mental health experience with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She created the collection by piecing together secondhand clothing, industry surplus and damaged textiles in contrasting colours of yellow and black to symbolize the coexistence of hyperactivity in a world of ‘normal’ people. Her designs explore new fashion solutions that can change consumption behaviours and limit the environmental impacts of the fashion industry.
2. Julia Washbourne, Bamboa & the Grow Bamboo Initiative

Dedicated environmentalist, Julia launched the lifestyle and eco-friendly homeware brand, Bamboa, in 2008 in order to provide an alternative to the pollution, waste and labour exportation that plague global fashion supply chains. The bamboo species includes some of the fastest growing plants on earth, which can be grown without pesticides and require relatively little water compared to other commercial crops. Using this natural material, Bamboa’s collection of items includes face masks, homeware, clothing and accessories. In addition, Julia co-founded the Grow Bamboo Initiative in 2020, which fights climate change and helps empower local communities. The initiative has created the first community bamboo plantation project in Kavre District, Nepal, which supports local families from Dhaneshowri village.
3. Toby Lam, The Fashion Clinic by T
How to make your old clothes look new
We are so used to buying new clothes and throwing away the old ones. But if the old clothes can be remade into something fashionable, would you want to keep wearing them?#GirlCity #Fashion #Upcycling #Exhibition #Artist #HongKong
Posted by Girl City on Friday, July 10, 2020
Suffering from symptoms of fast fashion? Designer and textile artist Toby Lam, better known as TobyCrispy, is here to the rescue! Check out The Fashion Clinic by T to redesign your preloved garments into an original creation that you will treasure forever. In addition to exhibitions and workshops, you can also find Toby’s upcycled textile art at The Other Shop at M+ museum and House by Kubrick at Cityplaza.
4. Norbyah Nolasco, imanorbyah
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbgWuhmPcW3/
Teacher by day and a fashion guru by night, Norbyah provides readers with all the latest tips and advice on buying secondhand or vintage clothing. Her Instagram page is filled with eclectic outfit ideas for those who wish to reduce textile waste but are unsure where to begin. Upon scrolling through her page, be prepared to find lots of local brands and designers that are committed to sustainability!
5. Karen Holt, Urban Earth Mama
Get inspired by Urban Earth Mama, created by conscious creator and photographer, Karen Holt, who’s on a mission to collaborate with sustainable and ethical brands in order to raise awareness of environmental issues. As a mother of two children, Karen shares how her family has adopted ethical practices at home while teaching her children to embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle. She also participated in the #ItTastesLikeLove campaign.