Qipology Founder Julie Liu on Reinventing Traditional Qipao for Global Fashion
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Qipology, a Hong Kong fashion brand specializing in modernized qipao, was founded in 2018 by Julie Liu, who brings a unique Chinese-Western cultural perspective as someone born in the United States and raised in Hong Kong . The brand emerged from a personal revelation at a friend's Shanghai-themed wedding in her mid-twenties, when Liu first tried on a custom-made qipao and received numerous compliments . Since then, Qipology has evolved from a bespoke tailoring service to a fashion label offering ready-to-wear collections, with Liu incorporating qipao elements into casual wear during the COVID-19 pandemic . The brand has achieved international recognition, with 60 percent of customers being foreigners, and recently expanded into the New York market .
Key Points
- Julie Liu studied business at undergraduate level and fashion buying at master's level, with no formal training in design or drawing
- The turning point came at age 26 when she attended a friend's Shanghai-themed wedding, prompting a trip to Shenzhen for a custom qipao
- She received approximately ten compliments on her qipao at a subsequent Lan Kwai Fong party, sparking the business idea
- During COVID-19, she pivoted to casual designs including short qipaos and incorporated qipao details into shirts and knitwear
- The brand relocated from a Sheung Wan business centre to PMQ in Central, where tourist foot traffic boosted visibility
Why It Matters
Qipology exemplifies how Hong Kong entrepreneurs can leverage the city's unique position as a cultural bridge between East and West to create globally competitive fashion brands . The brand's success in placing products at established retailers like China Arts and Yue Hwa while simultaneously expanding internationally demonstrates a scalable model for traditional craft revival in the modern fashion industry .
Qipology exemplifies how Hong Kong entrepreneurs can leverage the city's unique position as a cultural bridge between East and West to create globally competitive fashion brands . The brand's success in placing products at established retailers like China Arts and Yue Hwa while simultaneously expanding internationally demonstrates a scalable model for traditional craft revival in the modern fashion industry .