Meet Pabepabe’s Logan Chan, the Hong Kong-based designer behind Robert Wun’s Body Sculpture bags
Quirky, surreal and unexpectedly functional—these are the words that come to mind when encountering a Pabepabe handbag. Founded in 2018 by designer Logan Chan and his business partner Xing Liu, the Hong Kong-based art accessories brand transforms everyday objects—from Wellington boots and musical instruments to door knobs and wall plugs—into must-have fashion statements.
Pabepabe began as a happy accident. While studying at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Chan and Liu created off-kilter theatrical props for plays and photoshoots. One of their creations, a boot-shaped bag, garnered unexpected attention online. Sensing an opportunity, the duo began producing designs in small quantities. By their third year of studies, they had sold hundreds of pieces, leading to an official debut in Hong Kong with a pop-up at K11 Art Mall upon graduation. Today, Pabepabe has retail spaces in Hong Kong and Shanghai—with two more in the pipeline—and international stockists including Selfridges, Club 21 and Antonia. The brand has also staged presentations during Paris Fashion Week with the support of the Fashion Farm Foundation.
The brand’s choice of which everyday objects to transform into arm candy is rooted in personal history. With roots in Guangdong province, Chan’s family operates a toy factory, while Liu’s runs a bag factory. Especially in their earlier designs, inspiration came from items commonly found in Guangdong’s factories—work boots, protective gloves and even rice boxes.
In July, Pabepabe unveiled a high-profile collaboration with celebrated Hong Kong couturier Robert Wun. Four Body Sculpture bags were presented at Wun’s autumn-winter 2025 show during Paris Haute Couture Week. Inspired by the female form, the avant-garde designs—conceptualised by Wun—were realised by Chan and Liu through their technical expertise and innovative use of 3D rendering, 3D printing and leatherwork techniques.
With Tatler, Chan discusses Pabepabe's collaboration with Wun, his hopes for the brand's future and why Hong Kong designers need to support each other.
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Pabepabe co-founder and designer Logan Chan (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong/Zed Leets)
For those new to Pabepabe, which design best represents your ethos?Our Instrument collection, featuring the Horn bag and Ocarina bag. These are not practical or commercial pieces—they’re closer to art objects. We studied the instruments in detail, engineered the structures and worked directly with factories to bring them to life, combining leatherwork with 3D rendering. While they don’t sell in large volumes, they’ve brought us significant brand awareness.
There are various independent bag brands popping up in Hong Kong. What makes Pabepabe different?Most local bag brands are either highly commercial—targeting office wear—or distinctly feminine. Pabepabe is genderless, concept-driven and entirely self-produced. Our designs reinterpret mundane objects such as a plug, a spoon and a bar of soap into wearable art. After more than six years, we remain in our own lane, collaborating with artists and designers to push technical boundaries rather than competing directly with other brands.
What are some common traits between Pabepabe and its collaborators? We share a conceptual approach. Our first official collaboration was with Robert Wun, followed by partnerships with Shanghai-based label Staffonly and various Hong Kong creatives. We choose collaborators with a distinctive aesthetic and an openness to idea exchange.
Congratulations on your latest collaboration with Robert Wun. How did the Body Sculpture bags come to life?Robert already had concept sketches that, coincidentally, resembled one of our early designs—the Corset bag—so we knew exactly how to make it. We created technical drawings, 3D-printed the shell in Guangzhou and shipped it to London for fittings.
Once the 3D-printed pieces were assembled to form the bag’s structure, leather was meticulously moulded on top. Each piece was crafted by a single master pattern maker and an assistant, taking 48 hours to complete. In total, the project spanned three months from start to finish.
What was the greatest challenge?The most challenging part was production. It’s not easy to find craftspeople willing and able to make such unconventional bags. Most workers are used to standard leather bags and have no experience with hardware or moulded structures. We were fortunate to reconnect with a master pattern maker who had worked with us on our Instrument collection. He understood exactly what we wanted.
At the time, he was far from Guangzhou and was not working. We asked him to return to our factory, where he and his assistant spent a month producing the bags. Once we found him, the challenge was solved. He truly was the hero of the project.
Design process of the Body Structure bags (Photo: Logan Chan)
Body Structure bags before and after leather moulding (Photo: Logan Chan)
How did it feel to see the bags on the Paris Couture Week runway?Emotional. Couture shows rarely feature bags, so seeing ours on such a prestigious stage was surreal. I’m grateful to Robert for daring to do something so unexpected.
Both Robert Wun and Pabepabe are proudly from Hong Kong. Why is it important to support one another?Support doesn’t have to be material—it can be words of encouragement, sharing opportunities, or connecting someone to a client. The fashion industry is small and reputations last. Being generous, rather than competitive, builds goodwill that can lead to collaborations and long-term success.
3D rendering of the Body Structure bags (Photo: Logan Chan)
3D rendering of the Body Structure bags (Photo: Logan Chan)
What is the biggest challenge for Hong Kong brands right now?The market is tough—not just in Hong Kong but globally. Wholesale demand has slowed, particularly in Europe. In Hong Kong, high rents and salaries make it hard for small brands to survive without overseas sales. For many local designers, scaling up is almost impossible and without international reach, the domestic market alone isn’t enough to sustain operations.
What’s your vision for Pabepabe going forward?The Robert Wun collaboration renewed my desire to create more experimental pieces while maintaining a commercial line for stability. We plan to expand to four stores by next year while pursuing more special collaborations.
Chan posing outside the Pabepabe store in Sheung Wan (Photo: Tatler Hong Kong/Zed Leets)
What advice do you have for aspiring accessories designers from Hong Kong?Be clear about your direction. If you want to be commercial, focus on that; if you want to be experimental, commit to it. Manage your cash flow carefully and grow slowly—expanding too quickly can be fatal for a small brand.
What’s next for Pabepabe?In September, we’ll present new Instrument bags at a leather fair in Milan. Expect plenty of fresh, unconventional designs.
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