Since a young age, Julie Liu knew she wanted to work in fashion. After studying business and fashion buying at university, she began her own brand, Qipology. Offering contemporary qipaos that are stylish and practical for daily wear, Julie talks about the inspiration behind Qipology and where she hopes the business will head in the future.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Born in the US but raised in Hong Kong, I’ve always loved fashion and knew I wanted to work in the industry. My parents did not let me study fashion for my bachelor’s degree, so after completing my business degree, I did a Master’s degree in fashion buying. Then, I returned to Hong Kong to pursue my dream and start off my career as a fashion buyer. It may sound tacky, but I truly believe it’s important to have passion for what you do for a living especially when you’re spending a third of your time working.
What inspired you to start Qipology and what does it offer?
I went to a friend’s Shanghai Glamour themed wedding and struggled to find a qipao that I wanted to wear. The stores I visited were either too expensive, too old-fashioned or ill-fitted, so I decided to design my own. It was also the first time I’d ever worn a qipao. I didn’t realise how beautiful I would feel in one. I felt confident and got a lot of compliments that night!
Understanding the difficulty of searching for the right qipao, I realised there is a void in the market so decided to start a brand that solves the problem, whilst I was still working full-time. After a year of planning and beginning the brand, I decided to quit my job and worked on Qipology full-time.
Qipology specialises in contemporary qipaos that are stylish, but most importantly wearable and practical for modern-day women. We started off the business with a custom-made model, with a primary focus to serve clients finding qipaos for weddings, cocktail parties or black-tie events. Affected by Covid, our business was forced to pivot and we now have a range of qipaos suitable for work and daily wear, which has been a great expansion of our business. I can’t be more thankful.
Are there any business goals you are planning to reach this year?
I want to focus on distribution overseas as we get a lot of orders online, primarily from the US, Canada, UK and Australia. I also want to develop a stronger ready-to-wear collection for women and hopefully also for men.
Could you tell us one of your pieces that you are most proud of and why?
I really love our Zinnia qipao ballgown. Our bestselling colours for the style are black and burgundy red. It may look simple (which suits my personal style) but it is also very practical. The qipao has pockets and a removable tulle underneath that you can unzip to create less volume. You can also shorten the gown after your wedding/gala and repurpose it into a cocktail dress. I’m a very practical person and love designing occasion wear that can be worn more than once.
How do you make yourself happy and ritzy in life?
I think moving your body is important, so I work out nearly every morning. It keeps me energised and helps set the tone for the day. I also make sure I spend some time reading before I sleep. I find it therapeutic and it forces me to stop looking at screens too much. I found a new passion in motorcycling, so I try to bike more when time and when the weather permits. I’m not very good but definitely getting better!
