Some of my friends think I’m strange.
I have an intense passion for two things - food and fashion.
Those close to me will know that I’m always on the hunt for good food and stuff that make me look good.
In University (I’ve studied in China, Denmark and New Zealand), I studied food sciences, brand and marketing, and fashion design.
Back in China, I was a model.
That circle of friends that I mixed with considered food and eating almost taboo.
I’m 1.7m tall and even at my 48kg, I’m sometimes called “chubby” - especially by photographers seeing me through the lens.
But hey, nobody can live without food, and for me having good food is one of my favourite ways of finding happiness.
However, because of the clash in my love for food and fashion, I used to think I was somewhat unstable.
The paths and choices I make often seem to be on a collision course.
Now though, I am realizing fashion and food have a lot more in common than most people think.
There’s a Chinese phrase, “活色生香,” which translates to “Live Flesh” in a book by Ruth Rendell, but I don’t think that’s precise enough.
It means something intriguing and delightful that amplifies our five senses.
That’s what food and fashion do for me—they engage my sensory qualities then broaden them
Two things that every person in the world does is eat and wear clothes.
These are also the two things that can either be super simple - like eating a two-minute noodle while wearing T-shirt and shorts, or elevated into an art form of fine haute dining and haute couture glamour wear.
The craftsmanship of a chef is to create the most exquisite cuisine, which is similar to a designer’s creation in the field of fashion.
I remain close to my classmates from China who continue their journeys in food tech and culinary arts.
A couple of them have opened their bakeries, and we share the same mindset when it comes to the motivation to create something infused with passion—they craft beautiful breads with perfect crumbs, while I make tasteful pleated dresses.
More recently, top fashion brands and designers including Karl Lagerfield, Jeremy Scott, Jean Paul Gaultier, Chanel and Moschino have featured food-inspired collections.
There are cafes and restaurants that have been opened by Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren.
I’ve learned in my fashion brand and marketing studies is that food and fashion brands can boost identity and increase customer base for the partnering companies - if done right.
My professional journey has been a strange one with zigzag lines, from being a tailoring fashion consultant for menswear to working as an auction admin who was in love with exquisite Asian antiques.
More recently as the marketing and public affairs lead, I have worked towards the successful launch of a modern, upmarket Chinese restaurant on Auckland’s North Shore called Sum Made.
Now here I am with chowluckclub.com, where I will be writing about and exploring the complex connections between the world of fashion and cuisine.
Ready or not, quirky or not, welcome to my “Food, Fashion and More” column. And if you have any fashion or food-related questions, get in touch and I’ll do my best to help.
E-mail: Elise@chowluckclub.com