Jetsetter's Vintage Finds - Interview with Charlotte Hwang, Co-founder of The9thMuse


First published in ELEQT on 3 July 2012.



A few weeks back I had the pleasure of meeting up with Charlotte Hwang from The9thMuse, a quaint little store right above Hyde that offers some unique yet daring fashion and home accessories, with a contrasting variety of styles from all corners of the world to suit each and every one of us. Charlotte will clue us into how she and her business partner Jing thoughtfully sought all the vintage, fair trade, and bespoke pieces on shelf, as well as their desire to allow every woman to shine through with their own blend of good taste.




Charlotte, tell me your story!
Well, Jing and I met in high school at America. After that, we went onto the Boston University together, with me studying hotel management and Jing studying business. We moved back to Hong Kong after graduation, where I came to the position of Operations Director at Foodlink, a charity that focuses upon mitigating hunger in Hong Kong, while Jing is the Managing Partner for a solid-wood furniture and guitar manufacturing company in China. Though being a fund raiser targeting around $1.8m annually keeps me rather busy, Jing and I still manage to spend lots of time together.

So one day, over a cup of coffee, the idea of The9thMuse just pounced onto us. It kept us so excited that a year and a half down the line in March 2012, our first shop in Central was ready for visit! Both of us absolutely adore each and every piece we source, and though it was hard work to get our fashion and home accessories collection together, I had a terrific time partnering with Jing, since I get to concentrate on the store front and marketing, while Jing can work more on the technical side.


So what is The9thMuse all about?

The9thMuse means you are your own goddess of muse. It is basically all about you mixing and matching around to create your unique style. Fashion to us is more than just following trends. It is about standing out and carrying what we are passionate about. Aside from our vintage finds, we also stock exquisite designer pieces like jewelry from Chris Habana and accessories by House of Harlow 1960, which, coincidentally, selected items from these brands are currently on sale! We have some new stuff in store recently, including necklaces from local collection Tangram and vintage-inspired pieces by Juliet & Company.
Starting a fashion business with my best friend is certainly lots of fun, especially since we get to decorate our shop in our favourite style – the laid back country home, lined with rustic wood and brick wall. It is rather strategically located, being right above Hyde, so my friends just keep on coming over to pick me up from work, and we simply head straight down for a chill drink. What's more? We partnered up with Luxus Beauty just down the road in the Loop, so after some therapeutic shopping, my friends always trot over to pamper their skin with a well-deserved facial!


And which is your favourite piece in the shop?
My style is definitely more on the casual side. To me, feeling good is the most important factor contributing towards looking good. If a piece is flattering but uncomfortable, chances are you will look very agitated in it. There are two fashion accessories I just simply can’t live without though - friendship bracelets and black diamonds.
Currently high on my lust list are the sun glasses we have in store, from the iconic Aussie Le Specs to the glamorous Elizabeth and James to the super edgy TRIWA. Honestly, what I long for changes all the time, since each piece we carry is either an one-of-a-kind vintage or at a very limited quantity. If you really like what you see, you will have to get it on the spot. Otherwise, it might just get sold out next time you are back. Best part of it? You will never get the chance of bumping into others wearing the same thing!
Some of our best sellers include delicate necklaces from Rachel White's Demitasse line, the immaculately-crafted leather bags by Halo which is great for those who are always on the go, as well as handcrafted bags from Wayúu Tayá, a foundation that supports the indigenous people from Latin America. Our cotton scarves from Wintercheck Factory are also super practical, with little pouches on both ends for you to keep some spare change. Fancy decorating your home? We also have some beautiful velvet hand printed cushion covers from Aviva Stanoff and amazing scents from Tokyo Milk.


Do you guys have any goals for The9thMuse?
I am definitely looking forward to our upcoming sourcing trip in Bangkok! We will be directing our attention to our online shop, with free shipping all over Hong Kong and exciting summer raffles on our Facebook fan page. Hopefully the time will come when we are able to afford a ground floor shop!


The9thMuse Address: Unit 1204, 12/F, 1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. Telephone: 2537 7598 Email: [email protected] Website: the9thmuse.com
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