Craftmanship at Lee Gardens Area

Lee Gardens always offers a scenery different from the hustle and bustle in Causeway Bay. Recently there are two newly-opened stores in Lee Gardens, namely Leather Healer on Kai Chiu Road and Sunsmith on Yun Ping Road. The former introduced a handful of handcrafted leather shoes as well as shoe repairs services which makes you feel the meaning of artisans, while the latter provides products ranging from accessories to utensils, that reveals the importance of perseverance as well as the precious story of these objects which made from a little metal piece to varied items.

Let’s start with one of the stairs on Kai Chiu Road, with the smell of leather flourishes along the way. Leather Healer landed in Lee Gardens in May with its third branch. The founder, Wayne, recalled the days of falling in love with leather shoes from Japanese magazines, while leather shoes define personal styles as well as craftmanship. “With over a hundred handcrafted processes, handmade leather shoes offer different texture and smell over time. Though sneakers have always been the must-haves with strong brand awareness, leather shoes own its true values.”

After becoming obsessed with leather shoes, Wayne decided to self-learn matching by reading and watching online clips. In 2015, he firmly opened a store in Kwun Tong, which was a rented unit with only 200-300 sq.ft. where he introduced some special footwear to sell. As the shop was too small and having no knowledge of shoe repairs, Wayne often recommended the shoe repairs nearby to his customers. The shoe repairs master turned to him with grateful hearts months later, and taught him professional shoe repair skills, the wonderful encounter enabled Wayne to further expand his business and opened stores in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui respectively, and Leather Healer landed in Causeway Bay a month ago.

Seven years after launching his business, Wayne reveals the difficulty in business operation during pandemic in the last two years, however, the world of leather shoes has not taken a bit hit. “Leather shoes are essential for certain industries, but we think that people can actually wear leather shoes for all seasons, and not necessarily match with suits and ties.” Wayne believes in the possibilities of leather shoes, from decent types for banquets or work, to loafers and boots for weekdays outfit. Shoppers can freely choose their preferred leather skins for outsole with a wide range of varieties. Meanwhile, shoppers are keen on asking for matching tips with leather shoes and Leather Healer has a good deal of stylish leisure clothing, hats and glasses etc. to choose from. “I wish my shop could be accustomed to Japanese small stores and provide different combination. Long before in Kwun Tong we offered consignment services, and later we introduced more brands and enriched our product mix.”

Wayne’s retail business has been booming steadily, meanwhile he insists on providing shoe repair services with great respect to its craftsmanship. "There were times when customers ask about proper care for leather shoes. I do hope that not only do our customers find the items worth the money but also not worrying about wearing and maintenance. We have maintenance kits and products for leather goods, and we are happy to maintain for them, not to mention the repairs for outsole and bottoms.” Wayne often organizes workshops which welcome joiners to bring their own pairs of leather shoes, and teaches them ways of cleaning, moisturizing, and proper care for outsoles. “After opening the new store in Causeway Bay, we hope to extend our collaborations by holding exhibitions, music performances or launching crossover products, so that it is not only about buying and selling of leather shoes, but also the passing on the spirit of traditional craftsmanship.”

Address: 1st & 2nd Floor, 16 Kai Chiu Road, Causeway Bay (building entrance next to Chow Sang Sang Jewellery) 

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12noon to 9pm 

Going up from Kai Chiu Road, Sunsmith on Yun Ping Road shines with a distinctive space, with plenty of silverwares, copper utensils and metalworking tools. Crystal, the store manager recalled that Sunsmith was founded six years ago by local outstanding goldsmiths. Sunsmith was originated from Dawn Jewellery’s own workshop of Tsim Sha Tsui, apart from producing its own branded products, it also offers repairing and agency service for jewellery of international brands. Having passion in fostering appreciation for the stories behind goldsmiths, the store has always been holding workshops for customers to purchase their favourite jewellery, enabling them to understand the processes and efforts involved.

With the outbreak of the epidemic, goldsmiths settled down from their busy days, regrouped, and began to craft more exquisite metalworking utensils. Crystal herself took lessons to learn tea ceremony know-how and the utensils needed, and launched courses vary from wedding rings, sake tin ware to teapots, which nurtures the ideas and merits of honoured craft techniques.

Crystal admits that the course is not low-priced and was once being doubted by a customer that the fees was enough for flight tickets to Southeast Asia. What curiosity leads that customer was to attend the course and found the money worth spending, as the course inspired joiners to experience the reasons for handcrafting wares, using certain kinds of materials and the techniques, which brings longer healing power than that of travel. Though courses have gained wide acceptance, Crystal emphasizes that the high living cost in Hong Kong and the niche market make the workshop-driven hub unprofitable. However, Crystal and the goldsmiths insist to hold the courses. “The step-by-step process forms materials in shape with precision and mastery of skills by using different tools, that’s the magic of metalworking attracting us.”

Sunsmith recently opened a new branch in Lee Gardens where Crystal thinks the area has a special vibe. “Though it’s tough times in Hong Kong, Lee Gardens is still energetic and lively. The coexistence of tenements and modern commercial buildings creates a unique chemical reaction that attracts people of different ages and classes to linger, and deeply attracts us to open store here."

Sunsmith accentuates “Made in Hong Kong” ethos in its products that embrace Hong Kong values. Crystal states that “Surrounded by the world-renowned and famous brands, if customers choose our products because of their deep appreciation on Hong Kong’s unanimous craftsmanship instead of famous brand awareness, we will be very satisfied. We truly believe craftsmanship spirit means working unanimously and persevering until the end, though it takes a great deal of time to develop. That’s the apperception of all artisans.”

Though you and I may not be artisans, the spirit of craftsmanship burgeons in Lee Gardens and around the corner of tenements. As an area of contrasts where traditional craftsmanship merge with old and new mindsets, Lee Gardens welcome you to delve into the rich values of handcrafts and immerse yourself in experiencing the culture.

Address: 1/F, 17 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Operating hours:

From Tuesday to Thursday, 12noon to 7pm

From Friday to Sunday, 12noon to 7:30pm

Close on Mondays