Friday, July 20, 2012

Fashion in Hong Kong Part 2

Fashion in Hong Kong (Part 2): What is MK style?


As I mentioned last blog, since there are many styles of fashion in Hong Kong, I just want to pick one style called MK style. MK stands for Mong Kok (旺角) which is an area in Hong Kong, and known as the most density populated place in the world. Moreover, it is one of the areas that Hong Kong usually people hangout, and there are so many people such as young couples or families in weekends. It is like Harajuku (原宿) in Tokyo, Japan. Recently, Mong kok have been changing from just a busy downtown to trendsetting place[1]. In addition, since there are many shops for CDs, DVDs, comics books, anime and idol goods, computers and other electronic products in Mong Kok, mostly on Nathan Rord (彌敦道), it also known as the area of subculture like Akihabara(秋葉原) in Tokyo, Japan[2]. MK fashion has mystery that even though Hong Kong people do not know exactly what it is. So now I want to introduce some theories about what is MK style thorough out the research.

First is that MK style the typical style for Hong Kong people, can be found in many areas in Hong Kong, and it means that the style of people who try to follow Japanese trends like what is shown in Japanese magazine blindly but not quite making it there, dress like Japanese. They dye their hair as blonde or brownish to just follow the Japanese trend by looking at magazines[3]. Also, marketers use the word MK style to show authenticity and to give a product “street-cred”.

Secondly, in contrast with what I just mentioned above, there are people say that MK style is not a trend or subculture. And it is the style that teens want to dress in the ways that they think it is cool such as pretend to be like gangster or punk styled fashion. MK style is a big melting pot although with bad taste of putting accessories on. Or not only accessories, they buy what they see and like, then combine them all together excessively[4]. For example, for girls, they wear long fake eyelashes, colour contacts, bad hairstyles, and they draw eye browns. Also, for guys, they often dye their hair, wear hip-hop accessories with non-hip-hop clothes such as skinny jeans and just fit sized T-shirt. In this theory, MK style is for young teens that want to be like COOL person or want to act like gangster[5].

Thirdly, as the another theory tells that because of there are lots of computer shops, or shops that sells electronic products or anime goods as I mentioned before[6], the MK styled fashion is also said as Gothic Lolita fashion or Otaku fashion which is style of people who love anime (Otaku)[7].

MK style has negative meaning such as insulting people who dress like what I mentioned as second and third theory as well[8]. Also, negative connotation relate to prevalence of fake items[9]. It is still mystery, what exactly is the MK style, and even Hong Kong people don’t know what it is. If you have chance to go to Hong Kong, just remember this and it would be good to see with your own eyes and find out by yourself what is your definition of MK style, and I would love to do that.




[2] Ibid
[3] Discussion With Candy
[4] Hong Kong Hustle http://www.hongkonghustle.com/
[5] Ibid
[9]マニアック 香港” http://blog.goo.ne.jp/keumaya/e/cefba140d36c38f105547eec955e5c47

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