Meet Generation T

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Feng shui designer Thierry Chow is determined to give the traditional practice a thoroughly modern makeover

As a child, Generation T lister Thierry Chow didn’t give feng shui much thought. Which is odd, considering that her father, Chow Hon-ming, is one of Hong Kong’s most revered feng shui masters. “I just tuned it out,” she says.

Thierry discovered her desire to follow in her father’s footsteps later in life, after completing her schooling in art and design. Today, she’s using her design background and the experience she gained as an apprentice under her father to bring feng shui into the 21st century. This year she released a book, Love and Fate, that applies the ancient practice to the very modern world of love and dating. Here, Thierry introduces her work in her own words.

Feng shui is very misunderstood.

A lot of people think it’s a superstition, or a shortcut to getting what you want. When I was younger, even I thought that. It’s not about that at all—it’s looking at the meaning of objects and how they affect people’s physical and mental health.

I want to give feng shui a facelift

with my consultancy, TRE. By applying its traditions in the context of the modern world, I’m trying to educate people on feng shui’s true meaning. To do this, I think it’s important to rebrand feng shui without taking away from the heritage. It’s a difficult balance, because I don’t want people to think I don’t respect the practice. That’s not the case at all—i just want to keep it alive.

Fashion has a strong relationship with feng shui.

Some of my consultations with clients are more like styling sessions. Using your feng shui birth chart, we can see which of the five elements of Chinese astronomy you’re missing. Everything in the world falls into one of these five categories, so I can recommend the colours, patterns and shapes that suit you best.

My book focuses on love

because that’s always the number-one question people have in feng shui consultations. It incorporates palm reading, face reading and how to arrange your home for greater relationship luck, but using modern language that people can understand. Because of the way feng shui masters talk, with language shrouded in centuries of tradition, people often don’t understand its core principles, which is such a waste. Feng shui offers wisdom that I want more people to know about. In my book, that wisdom translates to how to attract the right person, how to keep your relationship sweet—issues we all face.