Window shopping: 6 of Hong Kong's best designed storefronts

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Ecols, 8-10 Gough Street, Sheung Wan (Near the Mid-levels Escalator), Central. It's also within walking distance from Sheung Wan MTR station.

In Hong Kong, retail is serious stuff, which perhaps explains why storefronts often look so well done that they border on being works of art.

Here are few of the best examples of Hong Kong’s store-front design, in my opinion.

Ecols, Sheung Wan

Sheung Wan is fast becoming the mecca for art and design in Hong Kong. Turn away from the Mid-Levels escalator, down Gage Street and you soon find yourself in Gough Street, a portal into Hong Kong’s potential as a destination for cool design. Nestled in here, near stores like Homeless and Out Of Stock, is Ecols, a retailer that seeks to highlight the best in sustainable and recycled design. Ecols’ hip and ever changing storefront reflects their ethos and the vibe of this up and coming borough.

Bridal shops, near Granville Road

The area around Granville Road, in Tsim Sha Tsu is well known for popular and funky street-wear. But tucked around the corner, on Kimberly Road is the nerve centre of Hong Kong’s bridal industry. Weddings are a big deal in Hong Kong (as any stroll through Hong Kong Park on a weekend, or for that matter most days of the week, will demonstrate). The aptly named Pretty Woman store has one of the most arresting storefronts on Bride central, with dresses that challenge the mind (and wallet).

Toy Museum, Prince's Building

There are plenty of toy stores in Hong Kong, but the Toy Museum in the Prince’s Building is something else. At first look, it is easy to miss this amazing storefront that beckons you into a labryrinthine treasure trove for for child and collector alike. We’ve seen many an adult mesmerised by the front windows of this gem of a store. If there is a line between precariously overstocked and carefully curated, then the Toy Museum rides it with delight and joy.

Hermes Silk Bar, Causeway Bay

Pop-up stores are the big thing in retail right now and the no gone Hermes Silk Bar, store-in-a-container in Causeway Bay nailed the trend. It was situated at the intersection of luxe and street-smart (equidistant from Dior and Island Butterfly), this Hermes branch on the street really captured the contrasts you find in Hong Kong. Decorated in company orange, the full size shipping container opened to reveal a functioning store with the latest designs. Sadly, the striking effect was diminished by the ubiquitous crowd control stanchions and tape around the store.

Lane Crawford

If window dressing is an art-form in Hong Kong, then luxury department store, Lane Crawford is the Louvre. An ever evolving store front and various atriums within the store constantly metamorphose through the year, with everything from serious fashion to carnival fun. We especially like that Lane Crawford takes mens fashion seriously and in the special home wares store in Pacifc Place, puts products build from recycled materials and classic designs out front for al the passing shoppers to admire.

Tom Lee Music, Wan Chai

Hong Kong might be better known for club and classical music, but there’s a serious rock scene and fast growing jazz movement as well. The place to find new instruments locally is Tom Lee Music. Although the impressive flagship store is in Tsim Sha Tsui, we like the Wan Chai branch’s store front for sheer temptation per square inch. In fact, there’s so much goodness crammed in here that it borders on being pornographic. If your tastes are musical and your temperament is impulsive be afraid, be very afraid.

Of course, this is only a small sampling of Hong Kong’s art of window dressing. The beauty of this city is that you can explore so much via the convenient underground rail (MTR), which is the backbone of the city. From each stop it only takes a little waking away from the obvious tourist traps to find some really exciting and artfully designed and fresh storefronts.

Addresses and images of all storefronts can be found in the gallery above. If you have any other suggested storefronts in Hong Kong, let us know below.