On Ying Lai

Hong Kong is an endless source of inspiration for fashion designer On Ying Lai and the Yat Pit label she co-founded with business partner Jason Mui (the label’s name, which translates as “one stroke”, comes from an ancient Cantonese idiom). From qipao dresses to wraparound skirts printed with views of the city’s harbour, and matching mesh sets emblazoned with traditional Chinese calligraphy, Yat Pit gathers in its interpretation of Chinese everyday wear from a compendium of cultural references, distinct and ambiguous.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Lai studied fine art in the United States before completing degrees at the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. After graduation, she joined forces with Jason Mui, and thus Yat Pit was born.

“Our grassroots Hong Kong perspective combined with our Western education enables us to see beauty in the vernacular,” Lai explains, “What seems like rubbish to others becomes Yat Pit’s inspiration and treasures. There are so many gems in Hong Kong culture and society that are waiting to be shown to the world.”

Creating clothes that are both captivating to the eye and provocative to the mind, Lai turns to a variety of sources to guide her through her creative process: Buddhism, Taoism, metaphysics, the streets of Sham Shui Po and the people who fill them, her parents, ancestors, her business partner and, naturally, herself.

Sham Shui Po holds a special place in Lai’s heart as it’s the place where she and Mui source fabrics. The designer’s daily schedule is rather uniform. “I start with giving myself cute make-up and picking an outfit to set the mood. I then source around my favourite area in Sham Shui Po and head to our studio at Wong Chuk Hang,” she says. “We have a meeting at the start of each day to ensure we’re on the same page. Then, we work on our daily tasks. To finish the day, I read and meditate to clear my mind and get ready to sleep.”