Lee Gardens Association Member Introduction
Leather goods have always been a practical and durable choice, which is why leather workshops and shops are so prevalent in Hong Kong. However, very few brands claim to be made in Hong Kong. Broken Fingers, a Hong Kong leather brand, is one of the few that insists on being made in Hong Kong. It also collaborates with sheltered workshops that are non-profit organizations, and every product is made stitch by stitch by them, making it a 100% handmade leather craft.
A coincidence created a brand
The brand's founders and owners, Yoma and Elyse, have always loved leather crafting, but the idea of starting a brand didn't come from the beginning. Instead, the interesting name "Broken Fingers" came first. This stemmed from a time when Yoma accidentally injured her finger while making leather goods. She immediately took a picture and shared it with Elyse, who coincidentally encountered the same situation. So, they decided that if they ever opened a shop, they would name it "Broken Fingers" to commemorate this coincidence and also to represent the little accidents that happen to every creator.
A gift becomes the first series
Broken Fingers' first collection was called the Girlfriend Collection. The idea came from Elyse – Yoma wanted to give Elyse a handmade gift, so she created a Japanese-style backpack inspired by Elyse's favorite cartoon character. This gift is still on display in the store, a sweet and romantic touch. The store's best-selling products are also based on this design, primarily featuring box-shaped bags with a square shape, becoming a signature design element of Broken Fingers.
A commitment leads to a collaboration
Broken Fingers also started as an online shop. Elyse, majoring in Fine Art, was responsible for the creation, while Yoma, majoring in Graphic Design, was responsible for pattern making and product supervision. The unique design and quality assurance of their products led them to open their first physical store in Causeway Bay in 2006. After that, orders increased, and since they insisted on hand-sewing everything, they needed others to share a lot of the production work, so they started looking for factories and manpower. One of the founders, Elyse, felt that "as a Hong Kong creator, I have a sense of mission for Hong Kong's manufacturing and design and creative industries, so I hope to find factories in Hong Kong to cooperate with."
Fortunately, they found a non-profit organization whose sheltered workshops could collaborate with them. Elyse continued, "Most people think that collaborating with sheltered workshops is us helping them, but the truth is quite the opposite. Without them, we wouldn't have been able to handle the huge orders. This kind of equal collaboration makes the brand even more meaningful!"
Finding a factory wasn't an easy process. Yoma explained, "From the initial communication to prototyping and finally to the first finished product, every step was a test. We went through a two- to three-year adjustment period before we arrived at the most suitable cooperation model."
The first branch became a milestone in my life.
Yoma and Elyse chose Causeway Bay for their first branch, and they've continued to choose it for their third branch. Besides the prime location, the older tenement buildings and elevators along Lan Fong Road are full of nostalgic Hong Kong charm, perfectly complementing Broken Fingers' Hong Kong-made concept. Rooted here, they've remained steadfast in their commitment.