Part 1 of our TASTEMAKERS Series: An interview with Bonnae Gokson
Hong Kong
Bonnae Gokson, entrepreneur and style icon.
How do you approach each new creative project?
I work with many luxury brands spanning different industries from fashion, cosmetics, jewellery to hotels. What’s important is to understand their philosophies, and how my creativity can enhance and add value to their project. I am quite open to anything.
What catches your attention in terms of fashion, design and interiors?
As far as aesthetics go, my taste varies from very clean, slick and modern to multi layering of patterns and colours. I think it is most important to have the eye for proportions and balance.
How did you hone your sense of style?
We must never mix up style and fashion. Fashion fades yet style which is very personal remains. One develops and grows with experience through the years. From such a learning path, one’s style may alter quite a bit but I think one’s personality matures with time.
Your personal interpretation of luxury?
Luxury definitely is quite a standard word these days. It could be a mix of the three: an emotion, an object or an experience. For example, workmanship that is rare, the water or air that we breathe are no longer as pure, the experience of service today compared with in years past. These days, I consider time so precious and luxurious as everyone doesn’t seem to have enough of it anymore!
Your most challenging project?
SEVVA was one of my many challenges. When I saw the property, it was merely a seven foot dark and chopped up venue. Working with the building authorities and the government on the building’s transformation was quite a task. Even installing our huge pieces of art was another major challenge with 20 men carrying them up 54 flights of narrow stairs. We have now gone through more than eight years of sometimes daily dramas of running an establishment, one that has gone from strength to strength. We are proud of and happy for what we have achieved so far.
Your five inspirations:
I have often enjoyed visiting Borough Market, London Bridge for years as there’s so much variety of food and new restaurants popping up which means there’s always something new to discover.
Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey, London is an off -the-beaten-track destination for food lovers. Start early in the morning, and be inspired by the freshest and most inventive produce. It’s edgy, inspiring and so much fun to wander around. You’ll find anything from gin cocktails, to carvery ham in a shack.
Forbidden Fruit, Omotesando Hills, Tokyo. I love the creative and quirky details at this café. When you wander down their back secret entrance to their boutique, you discover Gothic luxe decor at its best together with beautifully selected pieces of accessories and clothing. It’s always a mind blower.
Brandon Maxwell, the stylist behind so many of Lady Gaga’s stunning clothes worn at the various award shows.
There is never a dull moment at SEVVA with their ever evolving seasonal pop-up decor, new art pieces along with its international choice of great signature dishes and music.
What’s next for luxury?
I’d say the crafting of a luxe and stylish travel experience from start to finish as well as the developing prominence of the most unique lifestyle-related concepts, ideas and brands.
In this series, we also feature Polpat Asavaprapha , Loh Lik Peng , Farah Khan , and Jeffrey A. Wilkes.
