Retro Reverie: A look into the booming nostalgia trend in Hong Kong

Our fascination with the past has been further fueled by the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic. As we look into a post-pandemic world, we find ourselves increasingly drawn to reminiscing and revisiting old hobbies, as well as consuming nostalgic media. These activities not only provide us with a sense of stability but also serve as a means to propel ourselves positively into the future.

“The range of customers we get at the store is quite broad. There are customers from 8 to 80 years old that come in here, but they all come for different reasons,” shares Ricky Lau, owner of Good Bad Creative, a popular vintage shop in Sham Shui Po. The shop is chock full of items that people would have seen in different eras, especially those made in Hong Kong, which are quite popular with younger customers. People can purchase toys, vintage paraphernalia, and various old knick-knacks. “Older people visit to look at items to reminisce about their memories, whereas younger people come because they are curious and want to know more about what life was like before they were born,” he shares. 

At Sunrise Photo Co, a photography shop located in Sham Shui Po, proprietor Ah Keung, who has been manning the shop for over 30 years, has observed a shift in the demographic of customers who are purchasing film photography products. “Kids who are in their late 10’s or 20’s are the ones looking for film cameras,” Keung shares. “A lot of older people don’t have interest in it anymore because they’ve played and toyed with film cameras in their time,” he adds. 

He says that the younger generation gravitates towards film cameras because they’ve never had that experience before, so it gives them a sense of excitement. His shop sells both film and digital cameras and also stocks vintage cameras, some dating back from the 20s and 40s. “These cameras still function, but the photo quality isn’t great with these, but they’re priceless because of their history,” he shares.

Nostalgia and longing for the sweet memories of the past often provide us with warm, fuzzy feelings. The sense of familiarity or something we know gives us comfort, especially when it comes to food and drinks. “Food has the power to evoke emotions, and the feeling of consuming a memorable dish from one’s childhood is irreplaceable.” shares chef May Chow, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Best Female Chef in 2017 and the owner of Little Bao, a playful contemporary restaurant focused on reimagining Chinese comfort foods with a unique twist. 

“Vintage trends signify that quality is timeless, and inspiration can be drawn from the past to create, blend, or transform ideas for the present and future,” Chow states. "I recently saw a reincarnation of the Hong Kong French toast at Cheung Fat in Sham Shui Po. It was soaked in egg almost to mimic a soufflé, and it has been causing quite a viral stir," she exclaims. "Furthermore, the art of preparing Chinese crispy birds is experiencing a resurgence. Restaurants such as Chineseology, Wing, and Hong Kong Cuisine 1983 are reinventing techniques for preparing and cooking birds. For instance, dry ageing is being used to make the chickens crisper and juicier than ever before," she adds. 

At Little Bao, chef Chow offers the ice-cream bao, inspired by steamed mantou with condensed milk, “It is a childhood favourite and was our first creation 10 years ago,” she explains. “We’ve also been hosting Little Bao Down events, where we invite Hong Kong’s top chefs to reimagine the classic ‘happy meal’. A recent standout was chef Cary Doherty’s innovative take on the McDonald’s sundae! Tears of joy!” she exclaims. This season, she is also bringing back the experience of her famous funky neo-Cantonese restobar Happy Paradise which used to be operational in Soho but closed in 2022.  

In the beverage industry, Lorenzo Antinori, mixologist and founder of Bar Leone, explains that, like the food industry, the drink scene has gone through various circles and trends, but consumers now gravitate more towards nostalgia. 

“We witnessed the rise of hyper-regional concept bars, focusing on local ingredients and spirits such as agave, whisky, or gin. These establishments combined innovation and cocktail-making to create forward-thinking spaces,” he explains. “Nowadays, I feel that we have reached a pinnacle, and both bartenders and consumers are seeking comfort,” he says.

At Bar Leone, our design was inspired by the look of Italian houses and neighbourhood bars in the 80s,” he explains. The venue also offers reinterpreted favourites, such as their Frozen Cappuccino with amaro, a signature twist on the famous Italian coffee ice cream known as ‘Coppa del Nonno’ or ‘Grandpa’s Cup.’

At Rosewood’s flagship bar DarkSide (ranked #9 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023), they’ve reimagined drinks from the 90s. “We revived these drinks because most bartenders are not finding them interesting,” explains Simone Rossi, director of bars at Rosewood Hong Kong. “Most of the time, 90s disco-era drinks are understated and uncommon in bars, but guests love these simple drinks, especially when used with high-quality ingredients. We kept the same classic recipe but elevated them in terms of presentation,” he adds.  

Outside his regular day job, Rossi also launched a traditional sweet aperitif liqueur called Ratafia Rossi la rossa. "Ratafia is a forgotten and understated spirit made with wine, alcohol, and cherries that dates back to 1500," he explains. "I have seen room and potential in this category, especially for the Asian and US markets, which are showing interest in niche versatile products with nostalgic and authentic storytelling."

Picture this: a world bursting with vibrant colours, big hair, and even bigger dreams. The air is filled with infectious beats that make you want to break out your best dance moves while wearing acid-washed jeans and neon leggings – ah, the golden age of the 80s to the 90s.

In Hong Kong, the 80s and 90s marked the golden age of entertainment. This period saw the rise of Cantopop music and the popularity of superstars like Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Leslie Cheung, and Anita Mui.

According to Good Bad Creative’s Lau, his patrons look for things from the 90s. “Back in the day, if you were to talk about something ‘vintage’, people would assume it was from the 60s or 70s,” Lau says. He explains that Hong Kong experienced rapid development during the 80s and 90s, making it a crucial period for the city. “A lot of customers nowadays are looking for items from that timeline, such as items related to the Four Heavenly Kings [four kings of Cantopop – Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, and Leon Lai] and other paraphernalia related to that era,” he enthuses. “These items are becoming increasingly difficult to find nowadays. In addition to local customers, even visitors from the Mainland come here to purchase these items,” he adds.

“The 90s have been a highly popular fashion trend this year,” shares Denise Ho, founder of restyling accessory label Kitdo and a fashion stylist who has done works on International brands, fashion magazines, and styled celebrities like James Franco and Michelle Yeoh. “I believe that designers are currently influenced by the fashion trends of young adults in their 20s. These young adults, on the other hand, are directly influenced by the clothing they discover in their parents’ closets, which happens to be filled with 90s fashion,” she explains. 

Ho explains that it’s important to rediscover clothing that was once considered ‘off-season’ or ‘old.’ “Clothing should never be forgotten or abandoned. Buying and selling second-hand items is one of the best ways to demonstrate a circular economy, and I’m pleased to see that big fashion houses are taking this into consideration and incorporating it into their business models,” she explains.  

According to Sophie Hersan, fashion director and co-founder of Vestiaire Collective, a leading global online marketplace for pre-loved fashion, there is a significant increase in demand for vintage items. Hersan reveals that searches for vintage bags and clothing have more than doubled in Hong Kong in the past six months and nearly tripled over the last year. The most popular brands in the Hong Kong market include Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, and Celine, among others. “The most wanted categories are usually accessories such as handbags and jewellery which are always a safe investment, frequently increasing in value over time,” she adds. 

Hersan explains that there has been a global trend in Y2K fashion, and shoulder bags have made a significant comeback. “Archival fashion has also gained a lot of attention,” she shares. “For example, Kendall Jenner’s vintage John Paul Gaultier look brought back a lot of demand for archival looks.” The platform recently unveiled an exceptional archive collection of over 80 museum-worthy, never-worn vintage fashion items, which celebrates the designers who created these rare designs that have had a lasting impact on the industry. In light of the flourishing 'Barbiecore' trend, Vestiaire Collective also introduced a curated selection of Barbie-inspired pieces, including the 80s Courrèges jacket featuring a vibrant pink colourway. 

Our fixation with looking into the past for inspiration isn’t going anywhere. Trends that were once popular are bound to resurface once again – it’s only a matter of which eras will capture our obsession next. As younger generations grow older and gain a sense of nostalgia for their own childhoods, they, too, contribute to the revival of past styles and trends. Regardless of what comes next, we’re here for it.