It has been an uncertain 18 months for fashion retailers in Hong Kong, with continuous sales declines and depressed tourist arrivals caused by the socio-political unrest and returning waves of Covid-19.
“It has been almost six months without any tourists, and it's difficult to sustain the business just with the locals,” says Arnault Castel, founder of Hong Kong multi-brand boutique Kapok, who says local Hong Kong customers are the primary consumer base, with tourists providing a welcomed boost. Locals “have been neglected for many years”.