For the second in our series of French Fancies, Localiiz talks to
Nuage Concept, an online
contemporary jewellery boutique bringing the secrets of the Parisian style to savvy shoppers in Hong Kong.
Quoi?
New to the market since January 2013, Nuage Concept’s online store has already seen soaring success. Selling simple and charming luxury accessories at affordable prices, the company sources all their handmade jewellery directly from France’s top independent designers.
Qui?
Dressed in a chic LBD embellished with elegant objets d'art, it’s clear to see that Chantal Plagie, founder of Nuage Concept, hails from the French capital. Born and raised in the eternally-trendy Paris, this French-Chinese fashionista always knew she had an eye for style. “Since I was very young I loved shopping and all sorts of fashion. I liked to read fashion magazines, blogs and things like that. I also liked to find bargains and good deals,” she says.
Chantal and her husband/business partner Chris Yip moved to Hong Kong less than a year ago. Together they pursued Chantal’s dream to forge a path in the world of fashion and introduced affordable French jewellery to the Hong Kong market.
Pourquoi?
Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Chantal and Chris noticed a gap in the city’s fashion market. “We found that there’s a lot of inexpensive jewellery and then there’s a lot of high-end, very expensive stuff,” says Chris. “I wanted to bring jewels that you cannot find in Hong Kong and share this with the world,” adds Chantal. “All women like to discover new jewellery, have unique things and not wear the same as everyone else.
“I think in terms of fashion, Hong Kong people are mature enough to try new things and new brands. They don’t only stick to the big brands, so I think it’s a good place to start.”
Having both studied and travelled the world, Chantal and Chris decided to name the new business ‘Nuage’ - meaning ‘cloud’ in French - to represent the couple’s transient nature. “It’s also light and airy, like the feel of all the jewels,” says Chantal.
Comment?
Comparing French jewellery with American jewellery, Chantal points out that the French style is always discreet and elegant, two traits she says are largely unseen on Hong Kong’s current jewellery market. The designs on
Nuage Concept’s website are all created by independent French jewellery makers who have made their mark across Europe.
Chantal uses her extensive knowledge of French trends to personally select the pieces. “We want to bring Hong Kongers jewels they can keep for life, so quality and versatility are important. Jewellery is always a good investment for a woman,” she says with a cheeky smile towards Chris.
Read the series
French Fancies – Learning The Lingo
French Fancies – Beauty Without Boarders
French Fancies – A Taste of Home
French Fancies – Go Continental in the Heart of Hong Kong
