Cover Limited-edition stamps by Maison Kitsuné and A. Society (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
Limited-edition stamps by Maison Kitsuné and A. Society (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
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Fashion house Maison Kitsuné and eyewear brand A. Society celebrate Hong Kong’s sunset craftsmanship of stamp making through a limited-edition packaging concept
One may not immediately associate the traditional Chinese seals crafted in the sleepy streets of Sheung Wan with the world of fashion. However, Hong Kong eyewear label A. Society and Franco-Japanese fashion house Maison Kitsuné are challenging the perception of this sunset industry through their latest creative partnership.
Released last month, the collaboration features limited-edition packaging for A. Society’s eyewear collection that draws inspiration from the nostalgic charm of handwritten letters and traditional stone chops. The project introduces four uniquely designed seals crafted from Mazzucchelli Italian acetate, the material typically used for A. Society’s glasses frames. This replaces jade, the traditional material for stamps, for a contemporary feel.
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Above Limited-edition stamps by Maison Kitsuné and A. Society (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
Limited-edition stamps by Maison Kitsuné and A. Society (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
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As a nod to Maison Kitsuné’s playful aesthetic, the top of each seal is intricately carved into the shape of the brand’s iconic fox. To add an element of modern excitement, these stamps are distributed via a “blind box” concept. With a strictly limited production of only 200 pieces available across the entire collection, collectors have a one-in-ten chance of securing this unique tribute to Hong Kong craftsmanship.
The inspiration for this partnership stems from a desire at A. Society to explore cultural narratives and push the boundaries of traditional accessory design. Maison Kitsuné, with its unique fusion of fashion, music, and art, was viewed as a natural partner due to a shared “bicultural DNA”. While Maison Kitsuné navigates the creative currents between France and Japan, A. Society is rooted in Hong Kong’s own historical blend of East and West.
“We visualised this as a ‘romantic dialogue’—a postcard exchange between Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong,” says Dee Lam, the co-founder and creative director of A. Society. This creative bridge is built upon the theme of urban transformation, drawing parallels between the historic Palais Royal in Paris and Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road—both heritage sites that have evolved into vibrant, contemporary hubs where history and hip culture coexist.
To modernise the sunset craft of stamp-making, the brands focused on materiality and personal utility. Historically, from the 1920s to the 1970s, a personal seal was a daily necessity in Hong Kong, functioning as a primary legal signature. To honour this, the collaborative stamps are kept dainty and portable, intended to feel like a personal talisman for the modern creator.
Above A model wearing A. Society glasses on a tram as part of the film campaign of A. Society and Maison Kitsuné’s collaboration, which features limited-edition stamps (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
Above A model wearing A. Society glasses in Man Wa Lane, also known as “Stamp Alley” (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
A model wearing A. Society glasses on a tram as part of the film campaign of A. Society and Maison Kitsuné’s collaboration, which features limited-edition stamps (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
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The authenticity of the project was anchored by a direct collaboration with stamp craftsman Ng Kam-chuen of Pun Han Sin Koon, located on the historic Man Wa Lane, which is also known by its nickname “Seal Alley”. Ng’s expertise influenced everything from the textures to the typography used in the collection. His involvement extended to the launch of the collection, where he engraved seals live for guests at the pop-up party earlier this month at K11 Musea.
The visual identity of the project further pays tribute to the Hong Kong cityscape. The collaboration’s photos and videos were filmed entirely on location, capturing the rhythmic pulse of the city’s trams, the nostalgia of traditional cha chaan tengs and the birthplace of the craft itself, Man Wa Lane. Even the launch event reflected this intersection, featuring a bespoke milk tea cocktail by bartender Ray Mak that reimagined the Café Kitsuné concept through a local lens.
Above Maison Kitsuné and A. Society’s latest collaboration on a packaging concept that features limited-edition stamps (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
Maison Kitsuné and A. Society’s latest collaboration on a packaging concept that features limited-edition stamps (Photo: courtesy of Maison Kitsuné and A. Society)
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The design of the frames themselves reflects what A. Society’s co-founder and design director Julien Avignon, known professionally as Nadet, describes as “a collision of eras”, mixing traditional horn and tortoise shell textures with contemporary, plain colours to create a visual collage on the acetate. This intentional contrast celebrates both character and timelessness, mirroring the effortless Parisian aesthetic and the edgy, Hong Kong-born DNA of the two houses.
Lam sees this project as part of a wider movement of reconnecting global fashion with local craftsmanship and cultural specificity. “Consumers today are tired of homogenisation; they are looking for authenticity, storytelling and soul,” he says. “There is a massive global movement of creatives looking backward to move forward. By honouring local craftsmanship like Hong Kong’s seal making, we aren’t just selling products—we are preserving culture and giving global audiences a tangible piece of a city’s living history.”
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
