Hong Kong Trip Notes

Hong Kong is overrun with luxury brands! It has been twenty years since my last visit; I don't remember Chanel and LV on every street corner. What a disappointment. I had visions of finding all kinds of great things I can't find at home.... not quite. The big lesson from my trip: the thrill of discovering new and unique things requires as much work in today's world as is it did 30 years ago. 

My first fashion discovery was a 1976 Hermes scarf from Paris, purchased on a trip with my mother and father.

I was 12 years old.

I had wanted the scarf before I knew we were going to Europe. I'd seen similar styles on my mother and a few of her friends, it seemed rare, which made me want it all the more. Back then, you couldn't go to the local mall and purchase a Hermes scarf. In fact, you couldn't even travel into Manhattan and find a Hermes store. You needed to get on a Pan Am flight bound for Paris, which is what we did.

I slowly began a collecting scarves. I wanted to coordinate colors with my favorite ensembles and was hooked on the hunt. Any hopes of starting a real collection, however, hinged on another trip to Europe. In the early 80's I began to travel on my own, I scoured European cities for things unique and undiscovered. So much fun, and so easy to find great things to bring home and show your friends.

The possibility of discovery is still alive in Hong Kong we just needed to focus on the quiet streets away from the big brand stores jammed with label shoppers. I found shoe makers, bag designers and more from shops I had never heard of before.  I will post photos of them all as they arrive in the mail.

My wardrobe today speaks volumes of my love for adventure and discovery. I am attracted to things stylish and unique - not so much labels.

I didn’t purchase any designer items on our trip. Not because I don't appreciate them, but because I would rather wear something that is new, and undiscovered. I dislike the "have to have it" mentality and believe that brands worn as a status symbol lose their value. If dressing up becomes about proving our worth, we lose the joy in self-expression.

My husband (the caveman) and I travel to places like Turkey, Vietnam, China, and Europe in search of tassels, beads, and silk to inspire the pieces you see in the Heidi Carey Collection.

My dream is not to become a big company or open hundreds of retail stores, but to craft beautiful pieces that will last a lifetime. I want to produce accessories known for their superior quality so that they will be cherished and worn with the knowledge that not everyone you know has the same one.

I plan to update the collection a few times a year, introducing limited inventory to be discovered and treasured. At events, you’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces that you’ll won’t see in my online store, so you can discover and wear them proudly --  just like that 1976 Hermes scarf.

I hope you love your Heidi Carey pieces and tell your friends, keeping the joy of discovery alive. After all, that's what makes creating your personal style fun.

Big Hugs,

Heidi