Tucked away on an anonymous block of Tin Hau, Midwest has been quietly selling American vintage clothing in Hong Kong since 1993. Over the years they have evolved from a distributor to a retailer, and now into a remixer of sorts, taking classic garments from their stock, cutting them apart, and reassembling them into stylish contemporary pieces.
Midwest calls this updated line ‘First Edition’, and it includes a large number of designs for both men and women. Browsing the collection, you might find what was once a standard Ralph Lauren shirt that’s now an interesting multi-textured piece made up of three different patterns.
The look is somewhat similar to the patchwork craze that captivated Japanese designers Comme des Garcons and Junya Watanabe for so many years, taking fabric swatches and reworking them in new ways.
You can find examples of Midwest’s First Edition garments on their website.
The WoawWest collection
The WoawWest collection combines the creative talent of Midwest’s designers with the marketing might and buzz generating skills of the Woaw lifestyle store.
Design-wise, the WoawWest line is a continuation of the re-engineered garment aesthetic. This time around however, the theme is camouflage, and each piece contains multiple variations of olive drab and camo prints. The main designs include a flight jacket, a light coat, and a kimono, as well as a pair of sweatpants.
Woaw did an excellent job of curating the collection, populating it with additional items from the store that match the theme. These included bags by Hershel Supply Co., and accessories by several other brands. Half of Woaw’s upper floor was awash in camouflage gear.
The shop typically carries a large assortment of accessories from of-the-moment brands, including everything from candles and sound-systems, to eyewear and cosmetics.
Woaw’s focus on a young, cool urban demographic is a good match for the collection, and as the shop is situated on a small but busy street, the items will see more foot traffic than at the Midwest location in Tin Hau.
On the night of the launch, the turnout was strong and guests browsed, snacked, and chatted both inside and out on the street.
Moving into the new year, we’d like to see more creative collaborations where local businesses combine their individual strengths to build in new directions.
Midwest Co.
Shop 58, G/F Victoria Centre
15 Watson Road
Tin Hau, Hong Kong
(About five blocks walk towards the harbor from the Tin Hau MTR station)
Woaw Store
11 Gough Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
