Mr Derek CHAN Chun-kit

Mr Derek CHAN Chun-kit

Founder, DEMO
Fashion and Textiles graduate

In the eyes of many, the fashion industry is a dazzling world filled with back-to-back fashion weeks, long queues for pre-ordering new collections of luxury brands, and celebrities making headlines with their unique styles. However, Mr Derek Chan Chun-kit, a rising fashion designer and a graduate of PolyU’s School of Fashion and Textiles, has a clear vision of his own position and unwaveringly pursues his aesthetic ideals.

It is no exaggeration to say that Derek is a highly sought-after menswear designer in Hong Kong. Having founded his own fashion label in 2014, he made his name with his one-of-a-kind “soft masculinity”, which gains massive support from pop stars such as Hins Cheung, MC Cheung, and Keung To. His elaborate and elegant outfits have become visual feasts, whether on concert stages or on social media platforms. Derek has been listed as one of the “10 Asian Designers to Watch” by Fashion Asia in 2020, and his works, which subvert stereotypes, have earned him Designer of the Year (Menswear) and Collection of the Year awards from the Hong Kong Fashion Council. Last year, he not only received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from PolyU’s School of Fashion and Textiles, but also launched his latest collections at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week. This shining star captivates audiences both on local stages and international runways.

When reflecting on Derek’s career path, his alma mater emerges as a pivotal catalyst. “After completing my bachelor’s degree at PolyU, I ventured into shoe design and took part in the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC) with a women’s eveningwear collection. Impressed by my entry, Dr Jooyoung Shin, a PolyU professor, invited me to be his research assistant.” Such recognition and encouragement led Derek to return to his alma mater to pursue an MPhil degree. With a keen interest in integrating fashion and sustainability, he conducted research on biodegradable fabrics grown from bacteria, hoping to use this technology to manufacture clothes, bags, and accessories without the need for traditional knitting and weaving processes. Now, whenever he sources fabrics for a new collection, he tries to blend in other kinds of fibres, such as Tencel and linen, to reduce the environmental footprint of the final garment.

For Derek, “sustainability” takes on an additional significance. “Skirts were already a daily garment for European men in the 17th century, and it is common to see women wearing menswear nowadays. Why should we be limited by stereotypes? My fashion brand strives to embody the concept of ‘fluidity’, surpassing gender boundaries and blending traditional aesthetics into modern designs, with the aspiration of creating art that transcends temporal limitations.” This perspective is also closely related to Derek’s learning experiences – he once apprenticed under local master tailors, spending a year and a half learning how to hand-sew suits. Elements like traditional silhouettes and patterns, handmade embellishments and embroidery, court-style lantern sleeves, and vintage lace are frequently seen in his works, showcasing their enduring appeal.

To some extent, the fashion industry is always in a race against time: releasing new trends a season ahead, adopting the “see-now-buy-now” model for runway shows, and launching pre-spring and pre-fall collections to fill the gaps between fashion weeks… Rising from Hong Kong to the international stage, Derek has learned to face these challenges with composure. Amidst it all, he remains calm and dedicated, persistently presenting designs that are both timeless and innovative, narrating stories that never go out of style.

Publishing Date: June 2024