A colonial era that was responsible for architectural gems and relics such as the Central Police Station and the Blue House morphed into a commercial era that saw Hong Kong gain notoriety as China’s shopping mall. While the queues at Chanel and Louis Vuitton on the Canton Road are still striking, equally astounding is the rate at which art galleries and quirky restaurants (outside of hotels) have popped up in the 4 years since I moved to the region. Much of my time is spent in Sheung Wan (at the end of the Hollywood Road) – home to the 2 leading non-commercial arts spaces Asia Art Archive and Para/Site Art Space and neighbouring (hipster) eateries Heirloom and 208.

A catalyst for much of Hong Kong’s cultural regeneration has been ArtHK, the annual art fair which will come to the HK Convention Centre in its 5th “edition” May 15th-19th (the first since being partially acquired by Art|Basel last year). Among the 200 exhibiting galleries, we can now count as “locals” Gagosian, Emmanuel Perrotin, Ben Brown and White Cube.

Despite the explosion of commercial spaces, a proper museum of contemporary art still remains a distant vision on the 60 hectares dedicated to a Foster-planned cultural district on West Kowloon. To highlight this great divide, we are staging our fourth annual Intelligence Square debate at the Art Fair on May 18th with a star-studded panel discussing whether “Contemporary Art Excludes the 99 Percent” (www.intelligencesquared.asia). An “Art|Flat” that my team and I have curated at the Fair to benefit Para/Site also promises to be the most exciting (and affordable) one-stop-shop destination for design objects created by artists ranging from Takashi Murakami to Hong Kong’s legendary Frog King.

Today’s Canto-centric Hong Kong of 7 million people provides something for everybody and May is certainly the month to enjoy the breadth of its offering, from late night dancing at Kee Club to later night foot massages at 10 Feet High, by way of shopping expeditions to Joyce and the legendary Pottinger St Lanes.

Just don’t forget the sunscreen. The scene is hot and so is the temperature.

How did Trunk come about?
It’s been something I’d been thinking about for quite some time. I’d always been interested in clothes and having lived in London for a while there was no shop that I really liked. Having traveled to Japan and Italy there were shops there that I loved and where I bought most of my clothes. I was working for American Express at that time looking after global luxury brands and having studied at FIT in New York I wanted to get out of the corporate world. I’d also worked at Giorgio Armani so felt I had the tools  even though I don’t have a traditional retail background. I quit my job two years ago and came in from a customer perspective. It’s been a steep learning curve but worth it.

Why did you pick the brands you picked?
They were brands that I wore already and couldn’t find here. They tend not to be high fashion, but many are the manufacturers for global brands like Ralph Lauren. Industry people know that but consumers don’t.

Why Marylebone?
Because I live there and it’s a good fit for what I’m trying to do. Trunk is not East London trendy or Chelsea super high-end, it’s somewhere in between. I didn’t want to be on a main high street so being with other independents makes customers feel like it’s their own little secret. People have to make a bit of effort to come here. And the other reason is that next summer Andre Balazs is opening his first hotel outside the US across from me. I met him December 2009 in St Moritz. By the time the hotel opens we’ll be able to build up the business.

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Who is the Trunk man?
London is such an international hub for businessmen. We have bankers, lawyers, diplomats and actually quite a few chefs and restaurant owners. The Trunk customer is someone who’s made it so they’re confident in themselves and don’t need any flash brands to show off. They don’t want to look like they’re trying too hard.

Stockholm, Florence and Tokyo: what makes them such go-to places?
I’m from Stockholm and my sense of style is probably quite Swedish. I love going back home to see my friends and family. The thing I love about Japan is the attention to detail and the way people go out of their way to offer good service.  I can’t deal with attitude. That’s what I’m trying to create for Trunk. I’m working really hard to make sure our standards are high. You can go there and find British brands that have been forgotten about over here. And Florence is where the whole menswear industry gathers twice a year for Pitti Uomo. When you’re running your own shop it can be quite lonely so it’s useful to get together with other small menswear retailers.

Describe your style?
Simple, clean, smart casual. Craftsmanship is important but I think it’s good to have a balance so I’m not too extreme.

How important is craftsmanship to you?
I work with a brother and sister in Milan who work with ladies who live in the area and hand sew their ties for them. It’s exciting to support a business like that and meet the people behind the craft.

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Which items that you’ll be selling on COUTURELAB do you personally wear?
I like the Incotex chinos and the Boglioni jacket, both are very easy to travel with and can be worn in various situations. You could roll the jacket up in a ball and it’ll still look nice afterwards. The Trunk tote bag is something I use every day- I chuck in anything from magazines to my laptop. It’s great for travelling.

Who do you consider to be stylish?
Steve McQueen’s relaxed look is a good marker for Trunk I think. We sell t-shirts, jeans and suits under one roof and it can be quite difficult getting that mix of smart and casual just right.

Which era inspires you?
The 60’s before the hippies came around. The Ivy League,  Mad Men look is great. I also the love the architecture and design from that period.

Where do you rate as a stylish spot for a vacation?
The Swedish archipelago or Positano on the Amalfi coast. I love being in a new city just walking around, I’m not one for museums. We recently stayed at a lovely new hotel called ‘Ett Hem’ (a home) in Stockholm (etthemstockholm.se) – see below.

Favorite hotel?
Just outside Tokyo they have these small hotels where you don’t need to think about what you’re going to order because they just have one menu. They even have outfits laid out for you so you don’t need to make any decisions. That’s luxury for me. In Tokyo: the Park Hyatt, in Sao Paulo: the Fasano is great (see below). In Positano: San Pietro is very old school and traditional. I’m not one for cool trendy places where the service is a bit flaky.

Pet peeve?
It’s quite difficult to get me irritated but people who stand still on moving sidewalks in airports.

What’s your passion?
Food is very important to me. I was a chef in the Swedish marines. I really enjoy cooking. I did the menus and had no price restrictions so they actually got quite fat!

Style tip?
Fashion is full of rules and you shouldn’t worry too much. My personal tip is keep it simple. People panic too much.

What else would you like to achieve?
I did hotel management in Switzerland so would like to open a hotel one day. I lived in Brazil when I was growing up so when I moved back to Sweden I got a job in a hotel when I was 16 because I missed the international atmosphere. But a shop is more manageable for now!

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1. Boglioli Dover Jacket

2. Talisman Lucite Circular Jar

3. Incotex Slim Fit Chino

4. Charvet Green Men’s Slippers

5. Talisman Curved Ashtray

6. Cire Trudon Empire Candle

7. Trunk Desert Boot

8. Trunk Boston Bag

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A perfect day in Tokyo usually contains lots of walking around in various shops. This is where I get most of my inspiration for Trunk from, more so than going to any trade fair. Japanese buyers really go out of their way and constantly travel the world to find unique pieces to bring back home. I always make sure to visit the bigger shops like Isetan Men’s, Hankyu, BEAMS, Tomorrowland and United Arrows, but there are also lots of smaller shops that I like. Arts & Science is a small chain of shops that besides having great interior design also have a very nice selection of merchandise. The Japanese do lighting very well when it comes to interior design. Warm and cosy, just the way I like it.

Daikanyama is one of my favorite areas to go to. If I moved to Tokyo one day it would most likely be here I set up residence. The new Tsutaya book shop that just opened is very impressive and I think they have everything in print that is worth having. It consists of three buildings and in the middle one on the second floor they have a café with a magazine archive where you can read all the back issues of your favorite magazines. Other shops I like in Daikanyama are Okura, a really nice menswear shop, Nanamica for great outerwear and B-jirushi for the best bags. B-jirushi even sell the Trunk by Porter bag collection that I developed together with Yoshida Porter in Japan (now also available on Couturelab).

As much as I love shopping in Tokyo I probably love eating even more. The Japanese are obsessed with their food. Just pick up a Japanese food magazine and you’ll get the picture. And there is so much more than sushi on offer. My favorites are the so called izakaya restaurants. Many izakayas can be hard to find as they quite often are hidden in a basement with no clear signage out front. Maru is one of my favorites, but I also love Teppan-ya and Gochizen. New ones pop up all the time, so I can’t wait to go back soon again to see what new things there are on offer.

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1. Globetrotting Mom: Janavi Parrot Wrap
2. Social Butterfly Mom: Mrs John L Strong Social Butterfly Box
3. Moody Mom: Anya Hindmarch Huxley Clutch
4. Glamour Mom: Jenny Manik Mercian for Atelier Swarovski Opel Bib Necklace
5. Foodie Mom: Fontenille Pataud Salad Servers
6. Funky Mom: Rodrigo Atazu Floral Cuff
7. House Proud Mom: Cire Trudon Ernesto Interior Spray
8. Snoozy Mom: Rifat Ozbek Medium Ikat Cushion Yastik
9. Country Mom: Maison Legeron Bouquet Brooch
10. Yoga Mom: Kelly Wearstler Bronze Legs 

Lots of moms with kids and dogs and trees in Brooklyn.

Hobbled to Sahadi’s on Atlantic Ave: sacks full of wonderful eastern pulses and unfamiliar spices.
Decided to go the gym at the YMCA. Everyone spinning or in uncomfortable positions on rubber mats. I use the excuse of being recently run over to leave.
Have a drink at Henry Public.

Buy a book at Bookcourt on Smith St.
Early dinner at Rugala on Dean st.

Go home.
Feeling a bit depressed and bored.

Decide to see an art movie at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music, below)

It was excellent.

Go home. Sleep.

Frieze New York takes places 4-7 May: friezenewyork.com 

Some of my favourite places include:

Faubourg – A gourmet retailer that carries the best croissants…I make a daily stop in the morning on my way to my art studio. Franck and Linda, the owners are very good friends of mine as they are also fairly recent newcomers from Paris.

Granville Island – A fantastic market place where I do my shopping for fresh foods….a very important element in my life as food is central to family-life and hosting dinners our home. It also happens to be the home of Bridges, one of my top places for a lazy summer lunch on the patio.

Convention Centre – A top-of-the-art sustainable green building with grass on the roof… I annually exhibit at the IDSwest Show.

Lobby Lounge at Fairmont Pacific Rim – Hot spot to meet friends for a relaxing evening drink and to ‘people-watch’….there is definitely a scene here!

Forest and seashore – Where I take my dog for walks….she loves the smells….and I love the fresh air.

Thomas Haas – My stop for the most delicious chocolates in town! A great place to pick up a hostess gift or pastries for dessert…yum, yum.

1. Hermès 1970s Couture Silk Dress
E2

2. Chanel Drop Earrings
CAROLE TANENBAUM

3. Pussy Bow Pique Shirt
L’WREN SCOTT

4. Cowhorn and Agate Bracelet
CAROLYN ROUMEGUERE

5. Bronze Legs
KELLY WEARSTLER

6. Salome Earrings
DELFINA DELETTREZ

7. Signature Tusk Bangle
SHAUN LEANE

8. Pierre Cardin Cigarette Box and Lighter
TALISMAN

Compiled by Katie Ecclestone

Diana Vreeland. After Diana Vreeland is at Palazzo Fortuny, Venice until 25 June