GBA Lifestyle News
Partner and managing director, Hatton Studios
Agnes Shum began her career at professional jewelry training facility and co-working space Hatton Studios in 2013 in an administrative role. By 2016, she was working alongside founder Nathalie Melville as a managing director and business partner.
The Hongkonger, who was raised in the city and educated in the UK, previously worked at a luxury lighting company — which she says gave her invaluable experience in a creative setting.
“In an industry that’s male-dominated, Nathalie and I have continuously fought stereotypes.”
At Hatton Studios, it’s all about promoting traditional skills and craftsmanship to Hongkongers — something Shum says that she and her team have worked tirelessly towards. “We want them to know jewelry is not a dying art, or industry,” she says. “Hong Kong has trained up many students in the jewelry making profession — we have come across many talented students.”
But spreading the word on jewelry making, and training up young talent, are not the only goals Shum has in mind. “In an industry that’s male-dominated, Nathalie and I have continuously fought stereotypes,” she explains. Hatton Studios offer co-working spaces for 17 independent designers, of which 90 percent are women. “We advertise and promote these designers through exhibitions, in order to sell their creations,” Shum adds.
So what does the entrepreneur hope to bring to the city? “I build long term relationship with the people around us,” she says. “I don’t only help them in their professional lives by teaching them the art of jewelry — but also offer them a community to belong to.”
Her inspiration? “The creative community we have been trying to build has really inspired me a lot. The way they work makes you think, and start to look into the industry in Hong Kong.”
Proudest achievement? “Working with multiple charities — Changing Young Lives, Food Angel, the Hong Kong Alzheimer’s Disease Association, and the Hong Kong Dog Rescue.”
