The US-born, Hong Kong-raised designer talks about modernising Asian heritage and being inspired by the women in her life
“Growing up, I loved getting ready and dressing up with friends,” says Cheryl Leung, founder and designer of Hong Kong-based occasion wear brand Sau Lee. “[I had] this really tight-knit, supportive group of girls that were hype women, that made [me] feel great.”
That feeling of being loved and cheered on led Leung to launch her brand in 2014, taking her and her sister’s middle name “Sau” and her mother’s maiden name “Lee” to name it. The UCLA psychology graduate was motivated to start Sau Lee by a lack of choice in Hong Kong, where she grew up. She would often be forced to go to a tailor to make the pieces she wanted to wear.
“I really felt like there was a gap in occasion wear, where there were only the luxury brands or fast fashion; and that’s a gap that I really wanted to fill,” she says. “There were limited options that celebrated Chinese culture in contemporary fashion.”
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Sau Lee pieces are almost instantly recognisable, with their modern take on Chinese sartorial references blended with a feminine touch: think mini dresses with mandarin collars and midriff cut-outs; frog buttons attached to the high slits of knitted dresses; and a slew of contemporary interpretations of cheongsams.
The unapologetic east-meets-west aesthetic soon attracted a loyal following, with famous faces including Winnie Harlow, Olivia Culpo and influencers from around the world seen wearing Sau Lee at occasions from red carpets to birthday parties.