Upper Sheung Wan (up the hill) is the area containing Po Hing Fong and Tai Ping Shan Street extending into Bridges Street. This area has been nicknamed Poho and it’s THE hip area of Hong Kong Island. Sheung Wan was one of the earliest areas of Hong Kong to be settled by the British in the 1840s and became a working-class enclave for much of the 20th century. From about 2011 the little car repair shops and printing stores along Tai Ping Shan Street began to give way to a cool coffee shop here and there. Gentrification happened quickly. Poho is now home to independent boutiques, trendy eateries, street art and the government supported creative hub PMQ. Tai Ping Shan literally means “Peace Hill” and it’s apt. The low-rise buildings, Blake Garden and big old trees give the area a quiet calm which stands in stark contrast to busy Central next door. This is a lovely area to chill out and investigate the creative talents (artistic and culinary) of Hong Kong.
When I first came across this store I wasn’t sure what to make of the handmade goods inside – were they pop surrealist artworks, individualistic pet portraits or attractively illustrated cushions? Whatever they are, they are bizarre and ultra cool. Apart from cushions there are scarves and bags with the same unique artwork style. The woman behind Stars and Tart is Bibi Lei and she describes what she does as an illustration and fashion accessories label. Her work is rightly getting attention worldwide with media in Japan, Italy, UK and elsewhere taking note.
