Faded Glory: Dean Lap Chan on Memory, Nostalgia and Hong Kong’s Golden Era
For SS27, DEAN LAP CHAN presents Faded Glory, a collection inspired by Hong Kong in the 1980s and 1990s. We spoke with founder Dean Chan about nostalgia, his signature Loose-Embroidery technique, and the memories shaping his designs.
For his SS27 collection Faded Glory, Hong Kong-born designer Dean Lap Chan revisits the city’s vibrant summers of the 1980s and 1990s, translating personal memories into delicate embroidery, fluid silhouettes, and textured fabrics. We spoke with Dean Chan, the founder of DEAN LAP CHAN about nostalgia, his signature Loose-Embroidery technique, the influence of Hong Kong and London on his creative language, and his vision for the future of the brand.
1. What does the title Faded Glory mean to you?
To me, Faded Glory isn’t about decay or loss — it’s about the quiet beauty of transformation. It captures that bittersweet space where something once vibrant softens into something far more intimate and complex.
When I reflect on Hong Kong in the ’80s and ’90s, I recall a city overflowing with energy, glamour, and momentum. Seen through the lens of time, those memories gently soften: colours mute, fabrics wear, and what remains is a rich patina. Faded Glory is a quiet celebration of resilience — honouring a golden era not by freezing it in stone, but by allowing its spirit to age gracefully through the garments.
2. The collection is inspired by summers in Hong Kong during the 1980s and 1990s. Which personal memories shaped it most strongly?
It’s rooted in the sensory intensity of those Hong Kong summer afternoons — especially the crowded, vibrant colour combinations that filled the cityscape.
I was also deeply fascinated by the women of that era. I loved how effortlessly they navigated the climate, balancing refined polish with casual heat-wave necessity. That contrast between strict elegance and functional ease left a lasting impression on my creative consciousness.
3. How do you translate something as intangible as memory into clothing?
Memory is rarely precise; it is fragmented, atmospheric, and fluid. To translate that into clothing, I rely on texture and silhouette to create something deeply personal.
In this collection, our embroidery acts as the primary translator. Threads drift and settle like suspended memories. The surfaces are intentionally imperfect, capturing the fragility of recollection and the quiet beauty of what remains unresolved.
4. Could you tell us more about your signature Loose-Embroidery technique and how it appears in this collection?
The Loose-Embroidery technique developed from a desire to challenge the rigid structure of traditional needlework. Rather than binding the thread in tight, uniform stitches, we allow it to float, fray, and extend beyond the edge of the cloth.
Across Faded Glory, this manifests as delicate designs — reminiscent of traditional iconography and urban silhouettes — that seem to dissolve as you look closer. It gives the garments a sense of movement, as if the piece itself is mid-transformation.
5. How has moving between Hong Kong and London influenced your visual language?
Hong Kong instilled in me an appreciation for contrast, rhythm, and narrative depth, whereas London gave me conceptual freedom, subversion, and a precise architectural cut.
Living between these two global capitals creates a constant dialogue in my work. The vivid nostalgia of Hong Kong’s Eastern heritage intersects naturally with London’s edgy, tailored sensibility. That tension allows the collection to feel rooted in a specific story, yet entirely contemporary on a global stage.
6. What do you want people to understand about Hong Kong through your work?
I want to offer a perspective beyond the typical postcard skyline or financial metropolis. Hong Kong possesses immense emotional depth, quiet history, and rich cultural crosscurrents. Through my work, I hope to share that warmth and nuance — showing a side of the city that is gentle, reflective, and deeply artistic.
7. What would you like DEAN LAP CHAN to become in the future?
I want DEAN LAP CHAN to evolve into a global home for thoughtful, narrative-driven luxury. The goal is to build an enduring brand defined by uncompromising craft and emotional resonance. Ultimately, I want our pieces to become heirlooms — garments that are worn, lived in, and carried forward.
Credits:
Brand: Dean Lap Chan
Creative Director: Dean Chan
Photography: Fei Sun
