Making Waves

Patricia Kwok

hey say passion leads to purpose—and that’s certainly the case for Hong Kong native Patricia Kwok. “My first surf was six years ago in Hawaii during a two-week surf retreat,” Kwok reveals. “I’ve been hooked ever since.” The designer regularly travels the world to frequent the hottest surf spots and cites Nicaragua at the top of her list. “Empty beaches and great waves—i’d love to go back,” she says enthusiastically. With a degree in fashion design from London’s Royal College of Art and a career in merchandising at Tory Burch and Lane Crawford, Kwok decided to make her own way in 2013 and created swimwear label Kea. “It’s named after a bird native to New Zealand. They’re curious and intelligent, which is how I envision the brand,” she explains. What does the designer have set for the coming months? “I’m attending a lot of trade shows in the US this summer to hopefully reach a wider market—and perhaps I’ll stop by Hawaii for a surf trip, too,” she says with a cheeky smile.