David Hung: The Prodigy

This interview wasn't planned, at all. I met David Hung because I was interested in a few pieces of his collection. We both arrived early at the café, and sat away from each other (we didn't have a clue who the other person was). I saw a young man with incredibly slender hands, impeccably well dressed and with an attitude of reserved detachment. I knew this was my designer.

We became fast friends over coffee. He showed me his pieces, I was blown away by their craftsmanship.

Photo: Khatleen Minerve

David Hung

Age: 22

University: University of Mauritius

It's an honour to be able to present him to you on Style Mauritius. I believe that he is one of Mauritius' greatest designers, and cannot wait to see what he produces next.

The showstopper of his latest collection, 'Chromantisise'.

The Moodboard

The obvious question - how and when did you start designing?

I started designing when I was 8 years old, by making little bags and dresses for dolls and toys. When I was young, my room was a place where everyone came to work. There was a sewing table where my mother used to create tablecloths and some couture pieces. I liked the noise of the sewing machine.

My sister then started to use it, and like any child I wanted to imitate her, and found it fun. I made stuff that I still own! Cute little rectangular bags for myself, things like that....

In Form 3 my mother sent me to the School of Fashion Design and Garment Making. I learnt about all the basic aspects of designing: patrons de couture, architecture, different types of textiles...I finished the course a year later, and felt then that I wanted to study fashion as a subject for my A-levels. I had to change school in order to do so. I absolutely loved the subject, so it was well worth the change.

I was a laureate in Art as well as Fashion, and obtained a scholarship to study fashion at the University of Mauritius. In each of my three years there I helped organise fashion shows.

In June, you helped organise a fashion show featuring the best graduating talents of your year (ModaMix). It was a massive success; the Hennessy Hotel was overflowing with people. What a brilliant way to showcase your designs! Can you define your aesthetic?

I love white, precision, and minimalism with a twist, which keeps it edgy. It's like a blank canvas that you work with.

For this collection, I wanted to invent a concept: 'Chromantisise'. The word is a combination of two things: 'chromate', as in photochromic, and 'romance', as in the theme. The collection is a mini love letter, but still a textile innovation. I've created a jacket, for example, that is entirely made out of photochromic plastic. The material was donated to me by the Del Sol company - it is very hard to get here.

The material is like magic, just like love is magic: it changes colour depending on the intensity of light. Rose becomes magenta, for example. I layered the plastic so as to create multiple shades, variations in colour. I also used photo-chromatic thread for embroidery. I was inspired by the baroque period, romance and architecture - you can see it in the lines. It's all done whilst keeping a purist aesthetic.