“The more deeply I became immersed in the fashion industry, the more I was aware of the wastage and carbon footprint. This led me to explore sustainable fashion, and the global surge in invention and development of ethical materials gives me confidence in its future.”

Lydia is a fashion accessories designer dedicated to promoting sustainability and bringing about positive change in the design industry by involving both Hong Kong consumers and industry professionals. She earned her degree from the London College of Fashion, where she won The Kering Award for Sustainable Fashion in 2019. Returning to Hong Kong, Lydia  organised events at shops such as Hapi and WSNXT, promoting sustainability, community engagement, and social responsibility.

Having witnessed the environmental impact and waste generated by the fast fashion industry, Lydia creates innovative designs with an eco-friendly approach. One project is the Punk X Samurai collection, a range of handbags, hats, and sunglasses made from upcycled waste plastic, leather off-cuts, and vegan leather derived from pineapple fibre, inspired by traditional samurai armour and the Onna-bugeisha, a group of female samurai warriors, which incorporates elements of the gender-bending style synonymous with punk culture.

The sunglasses line has frames made from melted plastic bottles, while the arms are in brass and designed to resemble safety pins, paying homage to punk culture. These  can be removed easily with the screwdriver provided, and the frames can be melted and reshaped, so customers can have a new look without having to buy a new pair of sunglasses. By paying a remoulding fee, the same pair can be continuously regenerated and adapted. Also, the detachable safety pin arms can be repurposed as standalone jewellery or keychains.

Lydia seeks opportunities to collaborate with like-minded sustainable fashion and product companies driven by community values in France and Spain, which share her commitment to gender-neutral and unconventional approaches to fashion.