Here’s a sneak peak of what Hong Kong’s creative community looks like today, and how they celebrated the launch of LA-based store Lang at Kinsman
When? March 27
Where? Kinsman, Central
Who? Kayla Wong, Zarah Cheng, Michael Wong, Angelina Kwan, Wesley Ng, Arthur Bray, Kiri T, Yeeki Lo, Sean O'Connor, Arthur Leung
Here’s what you missed:
Last week, Los Angeles’ warm and buzzy atmosphere could be found in Hong Kong—and more particularly at Cantonese cocktail bar Kinsman—where entrepreneur Kayla Wong hosted a party in honour of Lang, the online retail platform she founded last September with brand director Zarah Cheng.
“We launched first in Los Angeles, but with Hong Kong being my first home I felt that it was important to share this new journey with our Hong Kong community,” Wong tells Tatler. “We wanted to get them—including brand founders, artists and entrepreneurs—together for a fun night to mingle and get to know each other. We want people to feel like they are family, so the event itself was supposed to feel like a reunion of sorts.”
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For the occasion, Lang collaborated with a Kinsman on a special menu, using gin from female-founded and award-winning distillery Two Moons Distillery. The three exclusive drinks—Rush Hour, Bruce Lee’s Negroni and The Mei Ling Way—were listed on menus tagged “Nei ho Lang” (“you are pretty” in Cantonese), and incorporated local Cantonese spirits such as Yuk Bing Siu.
Showcasing Hong Kong brands such as Yat Pit, Yeti Out, Victoria, Affection Blvd and Wavy Dpt a platform in North America, Lang wanted to spread the mindset in Hong Kong. “We wanted to introduce Lang to our Hong Kong audience, highlighting what local talents have to offer: that’s why we chose Kinsman as our venue and partnered with Two Moons Distillery to amplify this message,” Wong says. “We think it’s such a powerful concept for Kinsman to be an establishment that champions Cantonese spirits, so it was natural for us to work with both of them on an evening that celebrates the culture and talent of Hong Kong.”
Wong’s goal was clearly realised, as Kinsman’s space naturally morphed into a mingling space where the cool kids of Hong Kong came together as a community, with the support of industry heavyweights such as Casetify founder Wesley Ng, Angelina Kwan from Stratford Finance, and even Kayla Wong’s own father, actor and singer Michael Wong.
“I always believe in the power of community and what can come to fruition when we work with different synergies,” Wong adds. “There was so much great energy in the room that night and just hearing from different people that they were able to make new connections and possibly have new opportunities for collaborations is exactly what we wanted.”