Goods of Desire
Encyclopedia
Goods of Desire is a lifestyle brand company based in Hong Kong
. Its name is derived from the phonetic translation of the Cantonese
words meaning "to live better" (住好o的). Founded in 1996 by Douglas Young and Benjamin Lau, G.O.D. has collaborated with such companies as Coca Cola
, Microsoft
, Swarovski
, Canon, Greenpeace
, and the SPCA
. There are currently five store locations in Hong Kong. The company also sells products wholesale to boutiques in cities such as London, Amsterdam, New York, Sydney, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Singapore.
in 1996. Within two years, two more shops opened in Central
and Tsim Sha Tsui
respectively. In 2001, G.O.D. opened its 20,000 sq. ft. flagship store in Causeway Bay
. In 2008, the co-founders of G.O.D opened a new lifestyle mall in the heart of Causeway Bay. In 2008, the company introduced a "Hong Kong Street Culture Museum" alongside a small shop at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in Shek Kip Mei
, Kowloon
, which is also the current location of their main office. In 2009, the most recent location opened at The Peak Galleria.
Young believes that "the most successful brands tend to incorporate national identity." Not many Hong Kong brands actually feel very Hong Kong. I want to do something different: to give ourselves some pride and some respect. Some of our signature items have a quirky Hong Kong feel – they are unmistakable."
Young also said in an interview with Hong Kong Trade Development Council
that "I'm trying to push Hong Kong traditions, to make the ordinary and mundane into something extraordinary. When I hear people saying 'wow' about my products, it's great because it shows Hong Kong's flexibility."
" character ice cubes, Buddha statues painted in DayGlo tones, and old-fashioned Chinese textiles re-imagined in modern settings are some examples of their products.
" character.
In 2003, the company introduced its trademark slogan, "Delay No More", to the market. Spoken in Cantonese, the phrase sounds like one of Hong Kong's most frequently heard Cantonese
curses (meaning "fuck your mother") and it is emblazoned on many of G.O.D.'s most popular-selling shirts.
to create the first ever Starbucks store in the world to incorporate a "Bing Sutt" corner, a concept designed by G.O.D. that fuses the retro Hong Kong teahouse style with the contemporary look of a coffeehouse. The coffee company states that, "This very unique Starbucks store has been built as a collaborative project with the quintessential Hong Kong brand G.O.D. (Goods of Desire). It is a celebration of Hong Kong's roots and spirit."
", the name of one of the city's largest crime syndicates. "Police claimed the shop had broken a section of an 1845 anti-triad law called the Societies Ordinance, which allows for the arrest of any person in possession of 'any books, accounts, writing, lists of members, seals, banners or insignia of or relating to any triad society.' Triad members still often carry such insignia — usually worn on the backs of shirts — that they show to shopkeepers in exchange for protection money."
Authorities "confiscated 88 shirts and more than 500 postcards printed with a "14K
" logo - with the numbers written in Chinese characters - from the store's five offices and warehouse located in Central
, Causeway Bay
, Tsim Sha Tsui
and Yuen Long
."
Young states that "[It] was all a misunderstanding and the shirts were actually referring to 14 karat
gold
." The 18 employees, including Young, were released the next day, and "their 14K
T-shirts, are now collector's items," according to CNNGo.com.
to design mooncake
s for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
. Young and his team of designers came up with the idea to present the traditional treats as bottoms in four different designs that sold out immediately. In 2009, G.O.D. released four more bum-shaped mooncake designs.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Its name is derived from the phonetic translation of the Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
words meaning "to live better" (住好o的). Founded in 1996 by Douglas Young and Benjamin Lau, G.O.D. has collaborated with such companies as Coca Cola
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Swarovski
Swarovski
Swarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
, Canon, Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
, and the SPCA
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong)
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity for animals in Hong Kong.-Background:Before 1997, it was named the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ...
. There are currently five store locations in Hong Kong. The company also sells products wholesale to boutiques in cities such as London, Amsterdam, New York, Sydney, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Singapore.
History
Architects by training, co-founders Douglas Young and Benjamin Lau met in Young's hometown of Hong Kong in 1994. The idea for G.O.D. was born the following year, with the first store opening in Ap Lei ChauAp Lei Chau
Ap Lei Chau , or Aberdeen Island, is an island of Hong Kong, located south-west of Hong Kong Island, next to Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen Channel, with an area of 1.30 km². Administratively, it is part of Southern District. Ap Lei Chau is the third most densely populated island in the world.-...
in 1996. Within two years, two more shops opened in Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
and Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui , often abbreviated as TST, is an urbanized area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui...
respectively. In 2001, G.O.D. opened its 20,000 sq. ft. flagship store in Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is a heavily built-up area of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, located on the Hong Kong Island, and covering parts of Wan Chai and Eastern districts. The Chinese name is also romanized as Tung Lo Wan as in Tung Lo Wan Road...
. In 2008, the co-founders of G.O.D opened a new lifestyle mall in the heart of Causeway Bay. In 2008, the company introduced a "Hong Kong Street Culture Museum" alongside a small shop at the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in Shek Kip Mei
Shek Kip Mei
Shek Kip Mei, originally known as Kap Shek Mi, is an area in New Kowloon, the North Eastern Kowloon Peninsula of Hong Kong.-History:A major fire on 25 December 1953, destroyed the Shek Kip Mei shantytown of immigrants from Mainland China that had fled to Hong Kong, leaving 53,000 people...
, Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
, which is also the current location of their main office. In 2009, the most recent location opened at The Peak Galleria.
Concept
Taking inspiration from both the condensed urban centers and rural environments of Asia, G.O.D. is heavily influenced by the concept of the eastern lifestyle as an alternative to the western way of living. The idea of such a cultural contradiction is especially prevalent in a city like Hong Kong, a city that boasts a modernized way of life combined with traditional Chinese practices.Young believes that "the most successful brands tend to incorporate national identity." Not many Hong Kong brands actually feel very Hong Kong. I want to do something different: to give ourselves some pride and some respect. Some of our signature items have a quirky Hong Kong feel – they are unmistakable."
Young also said in an interview with Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based manufacturers, traders and service providers. Established in 1966, it has more than 40 offices around the world, including 11 in the Chinese mainland, promoting Hong Kong as a platform for doing business...
that "I'm trying to push Hong Kong traditions, to make the ordinary and mundane into something extraordinary. When I hear people saying 'wow' about my products, it's great because it shows Hong Kong's flexibility."
Products
G.O.D.'s core range of lifestyle products are designed in-house, and their product range consists mostly of home furnishings and tableware, though they offer some fashion items. Red rubber trays for making "Double HappinessDouble Happiness (calligraphy)
Double Happiness is a Chinese ornamental design commonly used as a decoration.It is a ligature "囍" composed of two Chinese characters 喜 , compressed to assume the square shape of a standard Chinese character , and often modified in various ways.The shuāngxǐ motif often appears on decorative...
" character ice cubes, Buddha statues painted in DayGlo tones, and old-fashioned Chinese textiles re-imagined in modern settings are some examples of their products.
Home accessories
Their collection includes bedroom accessories, bathroom accessories, tableware, kitchenware, all boasting designs or prints inspired by old and new aspects of Hong Kong culture. One of their more popular design themes for this line is the famous Chinese "Double HappinessDouble Happiness (calligraphy)
Double Happiness is a Chinese ornamental design commonly used as a decoration.It is a ligature "囍" composed of two Chinese characters 喜 , compressed to assume the square shape of a standard Chinese character , and often modified in various ways.The shuāngxǐ motif often appears on decorative...
" character.
Furniture
Major products include beds, sofas, couches, cabinets and storage, chairs and stools, ladders, mirrors, tables, and desks.Fashion
Their growing fashion line includes unisex t-shirts, menswear, womenswear, and undergarments. Accessories include belts, caps, fragrances, keychains, pins, umbrellas, and watches.In 2003, the company introduced its trademark slogan, "Delay No More", to the market. Spoken in Cantonese, the phrase sounds like one of Hong Kong's most frequently heard Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
curses (meaning "fuck your mother") and it is emblazoned on many of G.O.D.'s most popular-selling shirts.
Crossover projects
In June 2009, G.O.D. collaborated with StarbucksStarbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
to create the first ever Starbucks store in the world to incorporate a "Bing Sutt" corner, a concept designed by G.O.D. that fuses the retro Hong Kong teahouse style with the contemporary look of a coffeehouse. The coffee company states that, "This very unique Starbucks store has been built as a collaborative project with the quintessential Hong Kong brand G.O.D. (Goods of Desire). It is a celebration of Hong Kong's roots and spirit."
14K
In 2007, Douglas Young and seventeen G.O.D. employees were taken in by police for selling t-shirts bearing the logo "14K14K Triad
The 14K is a Triad group based in Hong Kong but active internationally. It is the second largest Triad group in the world with around 20,000 members split into thirty subgroups. They are the main rival of the Sun Yee On, which is the largest Triad. The 14K are responsible for large-scale drug...
", the name of one of the city's largest crime syndicates. "Police claimed the shop had broken a section of an 1845 anti-triad law called the Societies Ordinance, which allows for the arrest of any person in possession of 'any books, accounts, writing, lists of members, seals, banners or insignia of or relating to any triad society.' Triad members still often carry such insignia — usually worn on the backs of shirts — that they show to shopkeepers in exchange for protection money."
Authorities "confiscated 88 shirts and more than 500 postcards printed with a "14K
14K Triad
The 14K is a Triad group based in Hong Kong but active internationally. It is the second largest Triad group in the world with around 20,000 members split into thirty subgroups. They are the main rival of the Sun Yee On, which is the largest Triad. The 14K are responsible for large-scale drug...
" logo - with the numbers written in Chinese characters - from the store's five offices and warehouse located in Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
, Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is a heavily built-up area of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, located on the Hong Kong Island, and covering parts of Wan Chai and Eastern districts. The Chinese name is also romanized as Tung Lo Wan as in Tung Lo Wan Road...
, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui , often abbreviated as TST, is an urbanized area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui...
and Yuen Long
Yuen Long
Yuen Long , formerly Un Long, is an area and town located in the northwest of Hong Kong, on the Yuen Long Plain. To its west lie Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen, to the south Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong, to the east Au Tau and Kam Tin, and to the north Nam Sang Wai.-Name:The Cantonese name Yuen Long 元朗...
."
Young states that "[It] was all a misunderstanding and the shirts were actually referring to 14 karat
Carat (purity)
The karat or carat is a unit of purity for gold alloys.- Measure :Karat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass:where...
gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
." The 18 employees, including Young, were released the next day, and "their 14K
14K Triad
The 14K is a Triad group based in Hong Kong but active internationally. It is the second largest Triad group in the world with around 20,000 members split into thirty subgroups. They are the main rival of the Sun Yee On, which is the largest Triad. The 14K are responsible for large-scale drug...
T-shirts, are now collector's items," according to CNNGo.com.
Bum-shaped mooncakes
In 2008, G.O.D. collaborated with Kee Wah BakeryKee Wah Bakery
Kee Wah Bakery is a chain of bakery stores in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas of the United States . Kee Wah was originally founded in Hong Kong in 1938 by Mr. Wong Yip Wing...
to design mooncake
Mooncake
Mooncake is a Chinese bakery product traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival / Zhongqiu Festival. The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching; mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy on this occasion. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings...
s for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
. Young and his team of designers came up with the idea to present the traditional treats as bottoms in four different designs that sold out immediately. In 2009, G.O.D. released four more bum-shaped mooncake designs.
Awards
G.O.D. has received the following awards:- 2002: "Creative Force Award" by City Magazine
- 2004: "HK Top Ten Brands Award" by Chinese Manufacturers Association
- 2004: "Design for Asia Award" by HK Design Centre
- 2005: "Design of the Year - Bedding" by Elle Deco Magazine
- 2005: "Innovation & Creativity Award" by HK General Chamber of Commerce
- 2006: "Best 100 Stores of the World" by Retail Week UK
- 2007: "Award of Excellence - Publications" by HK Designer Association
- 2008: "Outstanding Greater China Design" by HK Comm. Art Centre
- 2008: "Design for Asia Award - Merit Recognition" by HK Design Centre
- 2009: "List 100 HK's Exceptional Shops and Services" by The List
- 2009: "Innovation Brand Awards" by Next Magazine
External links
- http://www.god.com.hk/ - Official Website of Goods of Desire
- http://info.hktdc.com/hktrader-international/six-DouglasYoung20090318.htm - Hong Kong Trade Development Council publication "Douglas Young: The Man Behind GOD"
- http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/travel/05foraging.html - The New York Times "Store Review: G.O.D. in Hong Kong"
- http://www.brandchannel.com/features_profile.asp?pr_id=198
- http://www.markwu.info/journal/entry/hong_kongs_lifestyle_store_goods_of_desire
- http://www.theglassmagazine.com/forum/article.asp?tid=443#title