Signature style: Aleida Harger

Hong Kong-based designer Aleida Harger aims to create a collection where every piece is special.

New Zealand-born, Hong Kong-based designer Aleida Harger's childhood prepared her well for a career in the fashion industry.

The daughter of designer Wendy Hall, Harger's daycare was her mother's workroom, playing with buttons, pretending to make patterns and sleeping under the cutting table in a suitcase.

After a short stint studying architecture, she left for London, where her career in fashion began. Harger studied at the London College of Fashion before setting up her own label with a friend, selling men's shirts in Portobello Market, before opening their store Hyper Hyper on Kensington High St.

Gold and silver men's trousers, foil print jacquard and bright hued satin shirts were their specialty.

After a couple of years she moved to Hong Kong to design and manufacture for British brands such as Firetrap, Ted Baker, Karen Millen, Whistles and Oasis.

Four years later she set up a company with her mother, developing and producing labels from the US, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

She is now living in Hong Kong and has just created her own label Louche, which is available here from Muse.

Who are your favourite fashion designers?

There are too many to list and all for very different reasons. If I had to name one, it would be Marni. It has a really unique look even though there is a hint of retro.I think it really appeals to my New Zealand sense of kitsch.

What is your favourite accessory of the moment?

I love scarves. I bought two this winter and wear either one every day.

One is a Vanessa Bruno hand-knitted brown mohair scarf that's about 6m long. The other is a scarf made of multicoloured hand-crochet circles from another French designer Sophie Digard.

What is the last item of clothing you bought?

Henry Duarte jeans from Fabric last time I was in New Zealand. I met him a few times when I lived in LA. He lives and breathes denim and you can tell. The fit, denim and wash are amazing.

What can't you live without?

My dogs. Mine look like terriers but they're absolute mutts and although they're about 5 now they're still acting like teenagers. I tell them to grow up but they don't listen. They make me laugh and I couldn't live without that.

Who does the best handbags?

I live in Hong Kong so I can't answer that question without getting into trouble. Living here you do get sick of the big-brand, heavy advertising mentality, particularly with handbags. I have a Jamin Puech canvas and leather one, which I love.

What item of makeup would you be lost without?

Most days I don't wear any, but I did lose my makeup bag recently and took great pleasure re-stocking with Paul & Joe eye gloss, bits and pieces from Benefit, and Make Up Forever does a great lip gloss. For me, it's the acquisition of it that's the biggest kick.

Who inspires you?

My mother. She's one of those people who makes you feel like no problem is insurmountable and that it's the most natural and correct thing to follow your dreams. I don't think she sees boundaries and her answer to "Should I?" is "Why not?"

Any style icons?

As a child it was Charlie's Angels because I thought they were so stylish in a normal kind of way - totally different to the bright pink jump-suited mother that back then I found so embarrassing. Now it's more like Justin Hawkins from the Darkness because of his couldn't-care-less attitude and over-the-top glam showmanship.

What's your favourite look?

Jeans, a Louche printed silk top, a long scarf, a long vintage coat, boots and a ton of silver jewellery. I'm going through a 60s wannabe rock chick groupie thing.