Designers at work in one of the studios in PMQ. [Photo/China Daily]

Transformation

Located on Hollywood Road in Central district, PMQ has been transformed into a landmark for the creative industry, and has attracted more than 3 million visitors－about 30 percent from the mainland and overseas－every year since it opened in 2014.

"At the current state of my business, I am still struggling to gain more exposure for my own work. This had proven to be really difficult for designers. We often lack the appropriate PR experience to effectively promote ourselves, leading to disappointing business sustainability," said Belinda Chang, founder of Obellery, a jewelry store in PMQ.

"But we are fortunate to have PMQ behind us. They introduce us to a lot of different international trade fairs, helping us to decide which are suitable for our product type and providing sponsorship for us to attend fairs abroad."

According to Stephen Ip, PMQ's former executive director, the hub nurtures the new generation of local designers by offering stable and affordable rents－usually, rental of a studio is about 40 to 50 percent lower than that of a commercial building in the same area.

"A resources center offers various support services to tenants, including training to help local designers launch their brands, consulting services and networking with manufacturers, buyers and overseas designers," he said.

About 130 studio units are available in PMQ. "We welcome designers to apply for studios. The key requirement is that our tenants must keep the studio door open," he added.

"We encourage designers to collaborate with fellow designers and interact with their customers. It creates a platform for them to introduce their brand story, their products or services and creative processes, and to keep a close watch on changing market trends."