Thursday 8 November 2007

Hong Kong design series - Part 2

G.O.D. (Goods Of Desire) is another of my favorite Hong Kong shopping haunts. G.O.D., named after the literal translation of the Cantonese words "to live better", was founded by Douglas Young in 1996. It now has four stores in Hong Kong and sells wholesale to stores in New York, London, Sydney, Singapore and the Netherlands.

Young's aim when he set out was to sell products defining "Hong Kong culture - which is a fusion of modern Asia and western lifestyle". The above image (a jam-packed street scene in Kowloon's Yau Ma Tei) has been reproduced on handbags, t-shirts etc. and has become instantly recognisable as a G.O.D. product.

One of the reasons I love G.O.D. so much is the variety of stock. You can find one-off vintage pieces (Shanghainese art deco if you're lucky - or the usual communist kitsch) amongst their exclusive range, as well as a few brands that other Australians would be familiar with such as Maxwell & Williams.

The store in Causeway Bay, which is closest to me, is quite large - well, large for HK anyway - and has a garden on the eaves surrounding the upper level, so when you look out the windows you see something other than the usual concrete sprawl that is so often dominant. It stocks everything from clothing and accessories to furniture, tabletop, bedding, gifts, lighting, and homewares to stylish garden accessories and plants.

So if you're heading to HK, I'd say definitely make a stop into G.O.D. if your schedule allows!





6 comments:

blah said...

Hey Suzie - did you hear that the police did a raid on their warehouse because they printed 14ct T shirts - which evidently is a triad group.

As the HK Weekend said - as if the triads are going to wear their name on their t-shirt whilst walking around town!!

I have to laugh, gotta love HK :-)

diana murphy said...

Wow!! I just checked out their website...phenomenal! The top image in your post is great. Do you know if it's used on any products sold in the States?

Suzy said...

F, no, I hadn't heard that...how funny! Yes, you do gotta love HK. Nothing to do but laugh about stuff like that...

Suzy said...

Hi Dianamuse, it is a great image, and so Hong Kong. I'm actually not sure about the product they sell outside of HK, but I'm sure if you contacted them they'd be able to put you in touch with their US retailers.

Anonymous said...

Hi Suzy,

Im Coleen. I just visited G.O.D. Causeway Bay yesterday as I was in HK on vacation. I bought a Brabantia garbage bin as it is a little pricey here in Manila. Wanted to stay long and feast my eyes on the wide array of stuff but we had 3 kids with us (not advisable) and a flight to catch afterwards. Ill be back in HK 1st week of December. Definitely Ill sneak in an hour for G.O.D.
The store is a MUST VISIT.

Anna Spiro said...

Thanks for the heads up on this one Suzy - will go on my list of places to visit when in HK!!
XXO
Anna