Canadian Designer Calls Hong Kong Home

HONG KONG — In a city better known for its appetite for buying fashion rather than producing it, Marie France Van Damme is something of a rarity here.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Van Damme has lived and worked in Hong Kong for 30 years. After decades running a manufacturing company in China that designed and made women’s wear for western brands such as La Redoute-Redcats, Marks & Spencer and Saks Fifth Avenue, Van Damme started shifting her attention to the high-end market a few years ago. In the summer of 2011, she launched her namesake brand of luxury resort wear featuring caftans and day-to-evening dresses retailing in the $500 to $600 range.