QUARANTINE DIARIES 2 with : HOU JING
Facetime photographed by Mathieu Puga. Words by Charlie Newman.
Please can you tell us where you're from and the best thing to do there.
I’m'm Hou Jing, from Anhui but am currently living in Shenzhen in the South of China. Shenzhen is one of the most advanced cities in terms of technology, for example DJI drones are actually a Shenzhen's company-all the tech companies from China are based in Shenzhen.I had to fly back urgently from Paris because of this pandemic, however, I have been lucky enough as China was already recovering from Covid and I have been able to do my modelling and pretty much run a normal life. I love to hang out with friends at coffee shops.
How long have you been modelling for and what has been a career highlight for you?
I started modelling about two years ago and the highlight for me has been the Maison Martin Margiela show in Paris, working alongside John Galliano and meeting one of my favourite models, Sora Choi.
What was the biggest surprise for you when you first started working in fashion?
People's attitude and the attention to details.
And what do you wish people knew more about when it comes to the world of fashion?
The story behind fashion, I hope people see more than just a piece of clothing but a work of art, a story or an idea.
Drawing from your personal experience, what have you gleaned from working in fashion?
CONFIDENCE! I used to be shy and afraid of expressing myself.
Covid 19 has undoubtedly transformed the way the world now works, the fashion industry included. How would you like to see the industry change for the better in the future?
One of the things I am concerned about is the waste in fashion and that's why I believe in Sustainable fashion. I wish all brands would consider the planet rather than just the profit they make.
What have you discovered about yourself throughout the struggles of this year?
Patience. Models careers can be short, and you always need to learn and improve fast but sometimes the opportunity doesn’t always come, and you need to be ready when the opportunity arises.
Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
Liu Wen, she also grew up in a small village and didn’t speak a word of English but with her hard work and perseverance, she is now a global supermodel. She changed the industry’s perception of Asian models.
Who do you think we should be watching/admiring when it comes to up and coming talent right now?
Angel Chan is a designer from Shenzhen and she just did a crossover with Adidas and H&M, which is an achievement itself for a local Chinese designer.
What would your advice be to young, up and coming models now?
Be yourself and be confident. Sometimes beauty is not on the outlook, but personality. Speaking English is really important for Chinese models to communicate outside of China.
Lastly, with the closing of 2020, what do you hope 2021 brings?
2020 brought too much sadness, I hope everyone can be safe and the world will be back to normal in 2021.
Hou appears courtesy of UNO Models.
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