Harbour City is one of Hong Kong’s most exciting shopping malls, located right next to the cruise terminal at the tip of the Tsim Sha Shui peninsula. It’s crammed with international designer labels and top-notch restaurants – and one or two home-grown outlets, as well. Initial – a fashion and lifestyle boutique – is the prime example.
Yes, Hong Kong has produced other great fashion designers, with Vivienne Tam being one of the best known names. But Initial is certainly one of the new kids on the trendy block, very much an up-and-coming boutique.
For men’s and women’s clothing, accessories and lifestyle items, this is the place to come for both inspiration and fun.
Initial is one of Hong Kong's prime home-grown boutiques — Photo courtesy of Initial
Founded in 2000, the Initial concept is not limited to the customer’s closet; it extends to the pursuit of exquisite style and fashion in all aspects of life.
The unusual experience begins upon entering the store. There’s a faint aroma of peach and French music as background for the distinctive clothing and personalized mix-and-match service, aimed at inspiring the customer with a fresh perspective and global vision.
The unique and renowned Initial style is a result of its professional team of designers, buyers, visual merchandising and graphics, the marketing department and frontline sales working together, and living and breathing and creating the Initial style.
Initial's vintage-designed women’s wear collection infuses subtle details of classic menswear, while highlighting the charm of a woman's elegance. Initial provides a wide range of women's apparel, from distinctive and fashionable business wear to simple and chic casual wear.
As its name implies, Initial takes customers back to the origin, with an invitation to step into an unusual experience.
Initial's menswear collection provides the polish and tailored cut of gentlemen's suiting, with the subtleties of both unique vintage design and military influences. Customers can sense the unusual experience right down to every detail.
Accessories and lifestyle items complete Initial’s eclectic offerings, with ideas for the bathroom, stationery and home decoration.
Perhaps the main attraction of Initial is that it's so very different. Mainstream stores barely seem to differ from each other wherever they may be in the world.
Initial, on the other hand, is very Hong Kong, yet it's taken on a global inspiration. The staff are young, hip and friendly without gushing or being pushy. And the prices – considering what is on offer elsewhere – are very reasonable.
Anyone looking to freshen up their wardrobe and take home a very practical Hong Kong souvenir could do a lot worse than picking up something from Initial.
