Lau is the first fashion designer whose works have become a focus of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum's collection[6] In 2013, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum held an exhibition of Lau, named '他Fashion傳奇Eddie Lau‧她Image百變‧劉培基',[7] including iconic stage costumes worn by Anita Mui, as well as Cathay Pacific cabin crew uniform. His autobiography Clair de Lune (《舉頭望明月．劉培基自傳》) was released in the same year.[8]
Early life and education
Lau was born in Hong Kong. He has never seen his father, while his mother was Pansy Cheung [zh],[9] an author. When he was eight years old, he was sent to a boarding school in Fanling. However, his mother did not pay any of his tuition fees.[10]
At the age of 11, Lau started out as an apprentice under a Shanghai tailor, Hai Hung-fat, in Tsim Sha Tsui.[11] During this period, Lau learned the craftsmanship which became particularly useful throughout his career. Also, the experience gained from the apprenticeship inspired the three elements that were emphasized in his future designs – silhouette, simplicity and elegance.[12]
In 1973, after he had saved enough money, Lau left Hong Kong for his further education on fashion design in a renowned fashion design institute – Central Saint Martins in London.[13]
According to Elle Magazine (199edition of August 1), Lau 'was enlightened by the freedom and artistic environment there and began to understand better what fashion design really was'.[14]
Career
Lau was invited to hold an exhibition in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in 2013
In fact, before Lau went to London for his further study, he established his own workshop in a rented room in Mirador Mansion at the age of 16.[15] Since then, Lau began his personal lifelong business in the fashion industry.
After finishing his 2-year study in London, Lau returned to Hong Kong with his first collection.[16] Soon in 1977, Lau was invited to parade his fashion collection for the grand finale in the Ready-to-wear Festival, which was organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.[17] In the same year, he headed back to London to hold his fashion show, and also flew to different countries afterwards to showcase his collections.
Later on, Lau launched his own lines:‘EDDIE LAU’and‘KAI’ (姫).[18] He also founded his own fashion boutiques with his own brand 'EDDIE LAU' in Hong Kong and Japan, and collaborated with Chinese Arts and Crafts (H.K.) Ltd. to create several fashion collections.[19] With these notable accomplishments, Lau became the first-ever Hong Kong designer to own an individual workshop and boutique.
In the 1980s, apart from fashion design and haute couture, Lau began his work in image design and stage costumes for pop stars, and the most iconic artist is Anita Mui, who dressed up in Lau's garments for almost every occasion and won the title of'Ever Changing Anita Mui' (百變梅艷芳).[20]
In 1999, Lau completed a project for Cathay Pacific – designing the flight attendantuniforms. He used 'The Heart of Asia' as his inspiration, and the design received a myriad of positive responses from the public.[21] He retired after he had finished the project.
However, after Lau's retirement, his passion towards fashion remains, and he is still keen on contributing to the industry. Lau renewed Cathay Pacific uniform designs in 2004 and designed the new uniforms for Cathay Pacific and Dragonair respectively in 2011 and 2013.[22][23]
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