Carrying Hong Kong Sash Across My Chest Bringing My Homeland to the World

Carrying Hong Kong Sash

Across My Chest - /

NG Sin Ying

Bringing My Homeland to the World

Being a global citizen and cultural enthusiast, I always look for opportunities to explore new cultures around the world. During these years, I have been to New York City and mainland China for exchange study (supported by Fung Scholarship) and work respectively. This year, I had an unforgettable cross-cultural experience - as the only Hong Kong Representative to participate in the 22nd Miss Tourism International held in Malaysia with 38 beautiful delegates from different countries. For me, it was not only a pageant but also a great platform for me to dig into Hong Kong history so as to showcase local culture to the world as well as to explore new cultures of other countries.

Get Prepared

The whole preparation was hard yet fulfilling as it led me to discover myself, my homeland and my new collaboration with local design brands.

Dig Deeper into myself and my city

“MyAmbition”, a mandatory session in the competition entry form, drove me to look inside myself about my vision and what I wanted to achieve based on my resources and ability. Since I had graduated from fashion major in university, I worked for garment manufacturing industry as a garment technician for lingerie product development and technical solution for two years and a half. Having been stationed in the production plant in Zhongshan for these few years, I wished to face a challenge, a career breakthrough and a larger platform to showcase my design to the outside world. Besides, as an advocate for local cultural heritage preservation and local design, I devoted my leisure to Hong Kong history and cultural studies by participating in field trips and talking with different people in communities. After digging deep into myself, I could finally conclude that I wanted to commit to my community, make use of my design ability to showcase unique local culture and promote Hong Kong design to the outside world. It was an unexpected experience to understand and listen to the inner voice of myself.

The costume design adopts traditional Qun Gua (裙褂) silhouette. It is a traditional Chinese wedding two-piece dress originated in Southern part of China, particularly in Guangdong region and Hong Kong since the late Ming Dynasty.

The Storyteller of Culture - Folk Costume

The culture and history of a country could be well expressed in a type of clothing - the folk (national) costume. Most of the international pageants (including this one) require the delegates to wear national costumes for competition as the costume tells who you are and where you come from. I got the inspiration for Hong Kong folk costume design from the intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong - the Kwan Kwa Wedding Costume (裙褂), the symbolic view of Victoria Harbour and the neon signboards (霓虹燈) I observed during my field trip in Yau Tsim Mong District. Digital printing of overhanging vividlycoloured neon signboards on night-streets and laser-cut embroidery of the traditional auspicious pattern were the main features of this costume. A huge thanks to Fung Foundation and Li & Fung Sourcing Team for their help with fabric sourcing!

The neon signboards and night view of Victoria Harbour are printed on the sleeves to capture and record the beautiful landmarks and unique culture of Hong Kong. Due to legal restriction of signboards, neon signboards are becoming increasingly scarce year by year. I would like to raise public awareness of the importance of local cultural heritage and to remember the beauty of Hong Kong.

Design in Hong Kong

To promote Hong Kong design to the outside world, I collaborated with two local design brands, “Goods of Desire” and “Postalk” for product and souvenir sponsorship. Their products represented Hong Kong’s east-meet-west culture with a sense of Hong Kong style humour, originality and creativity.

Collaborating with Hong Kong design brand “Postalk” & G.O.D “Goods of Desire”

Ready to Start

After the two-and-a-half-month preparation, I arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the competition in October with other 38 beautiful delegates around the world. During three weeks, we participated in various activities such as press conferences, talent shows, sponsor activities, catwalk shows and local tours. As we helped each other to overcome difficulties, a strong bond was forged. Multinational friendship and cultural exchange experiences were what I treasured most from the competition.

Holding the Hong Kong flag and sash across my chest before departure

Multinational friendship

On the first day of pageant, the pageant president Tan Sri Danny Ooi told us this pageant is not about “Winning” or “Losing”, it is a platform to make new friends from different countries. However, this was a beauty pageant after all and I did think most of the girls would be very competitive. Unexpectedly, most of the girls in the pageant were easy-going and helpful. Some of them were experienced fashion models and professional dancers in their countries who willingly provided catwalk training and dancing tips for the girls who needed help (including me, of course). The atmosphere was encouraging and we all sincerely wished everyone the best in the pageant or in future endeavours.

Wonderful experiences with my pageant sisters

Cultural exchange experience

Cultural Exchange Experience

It was truly amazing to know 38 different cultures from the delegates, which felt like I had been to one fifth of the countries of the world within three weeks. We experienced the cultures from each other, such as music, languages, festivals and food through souvenirs, national costumes and talent performances. We also further extended our sharing of social well-being, politics and a global view of different countries which were rarely covered by media. As a representative of Hong Kong, I devoted myself to publicizing how Hong Kong people treasured our beloved local cultures and core values.

Just a New Beginning

Although I did not get any awards, my folk costume design was ranked as Top 10 favourite national costumes by foreign media. The end of this pageant marked the beginning of my life: a new network, multinational friendships and a new ambition. I will continue to work on my ambition: committing to community services, making use of my design to showcase unique local culture and promote Hong Kong design to the world.

Top 10 favourite national costumes nominated by foreign media