Ms Mary YU Wah
Founder, Mary Yu Design
Fashion and Textiles graduate
Fashion designer Ms Mary Yu Wah, whose Chinese name “嫿” is derived from the literary classic “Dream of the Red Chamber”, embodies the meaning of “serene and beautiful” in both her name and her personality. From a young age, Mary has had a deep connection with traditional Chinese culture, and after graduating from PolyU’s School of Fashion and Textiles, she has dedicated herself to showcasing the eternal beauty of Chinese women through numerous exquisitely tailored qipaos that blend Eastern and Western aesthetics.
Since establishing her own fashion label, Mary has created upmarket qipaos for many celebrities, including Ms Louise Ho Pui-shan, the first woman to hold the post of Commissioner of Customs and Excise; famous metaphysician Qi Xian Yu; Mrs Teresa Ryan, wife of Mr Peter Ryan, the former Consul General of Ireland in Hong Kong; and winners of the Miss Hong Kong Pageant. Her works have also been included in the permanent collection of the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou for five consecutive years. Mary excels at blending cultural elements, incorporating traditional motifs such as blue-and-white pottery, ink wash paintings, auspicious clouds and peonies, as well as iconic symbols of Hong Kong like the bauhinia flower, Mahjong tiles, skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island, and even our everyday dish soy sauce shrimp! Besides, have you ever seen qipaos made of denim? Have you ever envisioned secondary school students dancing hip hop in qipaos? Have you ever thought of visually impaired women confidently posing for qipao photoshoots? Mary’s skilful hands always transform the impossible into the possible. Her accomplishments have earned countless accolades, including being named in the Forty under Forty by “Perspective Magazine”, the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Selection of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Professional Elite Ladies Selection.
Throughout her career, Mary has dedicated herself wholeheartedly to every project, continuously challenging her limits; this unwavering commitment stems from the hardships she endured in her youth. Her parents divorced when she was just one year old, and at the age of eight, she and her mother came to Hong Kong from Yunnan, relying on each other for survival. Despite initially being known to her classmates as a “deaf-mute” who didn’t understand Cantonese, Mary chose to embrace improvement rather than voicing complaints. “I diligently worked to learn Cantonese by watching TV every day, simultaneously listening and speaking. After three months of effort, I could finally communicate with everyone.” Mary displayed artistic talent since childhood, which she continued to cultivate in Hong Kong by ranking first in Visual Arts throughout Form One to Form Seven and frequently winning competitions. However, she also shouldered the responsibility of caring for her sickly mother while supporting herself in a financially disadvantaged household. “During my time at PolyU, I juggled three part-time jobs and even travelled to the mainland on weekends to design Japanese handbags. One of my most unforgettable experiences was applying for a knitwear design job in the second semester of my freshman year: the position required two years of experience, but grateful to the owner for recognising my enthusiasm and artistic skills, I was granted a rare opportunity to learn and successfully completed my first wool knitwear collection that went on to be sold in Italy.” By the time she graduated, Mary had already built a substantial customer base and acquired valuable experience, laying a solid foundation for her entrepreneurial journey.
“Continuous learning is one of the most vital pursuits in our lives.” Mary is a tireless and multidimensional designer. Apart from qipaos, she redefines uniforms as “Group Fashion”, and her clients included Yoshinoya, Watsons Water, China Resources Group, Hong Kong Wing Wah Cake Shop, Chee Kei, and Festival Walk. She even designed uniforms for Hong Kong’s equestrian team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In spite of the challenges posed by the pandemic, Mary has fearlessly explored new territories: designing packaging for Scotch Whisky, launching NFT artwork, creating tourbillon watches inspired by the peach blossoms and the swallow from the “Classic of Mountains and Seas”, and transforming flower buttons on cheongsams into jewellery...
Despite hardships in the past, Mary has had a series of magnificent encounters with art and culture. Life is about experience, isn’t it? For the little girl from Yunnan over thirty years ago, the trials and tribulations have enabled her growth and transformation into an outstanding designer. Through her works, Mary embraces tradition while fostering innovation, contributing to the preservation of our precious cultural heritage.
One of my most unforgettable experiences was applying for a knitwear design job in the second semester of my freshman year: the position required two years of experience, but grateful to the owner for recognising my enthusiasm and artistic skills, I was granted a rare opportunity to learn and successfully completed my first wool knitwear collection that went on to be sold in Italy.
Publishing Date: February 2024
